Hotel Ragusa.

Ragusa is the provincial capital further south of Italy and occupies a vast territory between the Iblei mountains and the sea. The landscape is hilly and in the countryside we can still admire the typical "masserie", the ancient fortified farms. The town was almost totally destroyed by an earthquake in 1693. The reconstruction gave the appearance of the city with two faces. The new built-on is in traditional baroque style with elegant palaces and spacious streets. The old part, instaed, offers a mixture of styles that creates a very picturesque atmosphere.

Ragusa has ancient origins that date back to the second millennium b.C., as evidenced by the numerous artefacts found in its territory. The city, which once was called Ibla, was inhabited by Greek, Roman and Byzantine, which fortified the village. But were the Arabs and Normans to give greater impetus to the development of trade, marking the golden age of Ragusa. Since 1296 the province became a possession of the powerful Chiaramonte family, who maintained thecontrol over the area for a long time. The city's economy is based primarily on agriculture and breeding although in recent years has begun exploitation of its great tourism potential.

The visit of Ragusa begin from the historical center, where walking through the medieval streets we can still breathe an atmosphere of yesteryear. To access this part of the city we should go a long stairway, which in the end gives a spectacular panorama. Along the way we meet the Church of Santa Maria delle Scale, dating back to the '300, and some baroque palaces. Going over there is the magnificent Cathedral of San George that has a characteristic pink facade. The interior is dominated by an high dome with magnificent blue windows.

The visit of the new part start from another famous staircase that leads to Corso Italia, the main way of the modern Ragusa. Going by this wide street we can admire some elegant buildings, as the eighteenth century palace Bertini. The heart of this quarter is without doubt the Cathedral of San Giovanni, located in the square of the same name. The church has a beautiful facade richly decorated and flanked by a beautiful bell tower. Nearby lies the Archaeological Museum ibleo, which hosts numerous finds from the local archeological site.