Ragusa sits high in Sicily’s southeast, a twin-souled city reborn after the 1693 earthquake. Ragusa Superiore crowns the ridge; Ragusa Ibla tumbles down the hillside in a honeyed maze of stairways, balconies, and domes. Together they anchor the Val di Noto UNESCO World Heritage site—one of Italy’s essential Baroque ensembles.

Beyond the architecture, Ragusa is flavor country. Taste scacce (folded flatbread stuffed with tomato or greens), ravioli di ricotta with pork ragù, and Ragusano DOP cheese. Nearby vineyards pour Cerasuolo di Vittoria, Sicily’s only DOCG wine, while local pastry counters turn out textbook cannoli and almond cookies.

Practical notes: Ragusa is walkable but steep—pack good shoes and be ready for stairs. Respect ZTL (limited-traffic zones) in historic centers if you’re driving. Shops often close mid-afternoon, and dinner starts later than you might expect (8 pm is normal). Book top restaurants in advance, especially in high season.

Ragusa

Ragusa Ibla is a living diorama: stone lanes, wrought-iron balconies, and pocket piazzas that seem painted in late-afternoon light. The star, the Duomo di San Giorgio, rises from a sloped piazza like a stage set. Nearby, the Giardino Ibleo offers a breezy promenade with valley views and three petite churches.

Cultural highlights abound. Hunt for the Portale di San Giorgio (a 14th-century Gothic-Norman arch), peek at the elegant Circolo di Conversazione, and pause at Santa Maria delle Scale for that postcard panorama of Ibla. With a car, you can add Castello di Donnafugata (20–25 minutes) for aristocratic salons and a hedge maze, or roll down to Marina di Ragusa for a seaside aperitivo.

• Don’t-miss sights: Duomo di San Giorgio, Giardino Ibleo, Santa Maria delle Scale viewpoint, Chiesa di San Giuseppe, Portale di San Giorgio, Circolo di Conversazione.
• Local flavors to try: scacce ragusane, cavatieddi with pork ragù, Ragusano DOP, wild-fennel sausage from nearby Chiaramonte Gulfi, cannoli, granita with brioche, and Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG.
• Great eats and treats (current as of 2025): I Banchi (bakery-bistro by chef Ciccio Sultano; breakfast to late-night), Ristorante Duomo (fine-dining landmark; book ahead), Locanda Don Serafino Restaurant (refined tasting menus in a vaulted grotto), Gelati Divini (wine-kissed and Modica-chocolate gelato), Pasticceria Di Pasquale (historic pastry shop for cannoli, mignoni, and arancini), Salumeria Barocco (platter heaven—Ragusano, caponata, and cured meats).

Where to stay (choose Ibla for cobbled romance; Superiore for easier parking and access):

• Browse apartments and villas: VRBO Ragusa — look for stone houses with balconies in Ibla.
• Compare hotels and boutique stays: Hotels.com Ragusa — consider A.D. 1768 Boutique Hotel (by Piazza Duomo), San Giorgio Palace Hotel (Ibla, with valley views), or Relais Antica Badia (Superiore, for a palazzo feel).

Getting to Ragusa (use these for planning and tickets):

• Flights (Europe/UK to Sicily): Catania (CTA) is the big hub; Comiso (CIY) is closer. Search with Omio Flights. CTA→Ragusa by bus ~1h45–2h15, about €9–€15; CIY→Ragusa by bus or taxi ~40–60 minutes, about €4–€8 by bus.
• Trains in Italy/Sicily: Catania or Syracuse to Ragusa takes ~3–3.5 hours with a change; scenic but slower. Check times and prices on Omio Trains.
• Buses within Sicily: Direct and frequent between Catania Airport and Ragusa (roughly every 1–2 hours). Compare options on Omio Buses.

Day 1: Arrival, Ragusa Ibla Essentials, and a Home-Cooked Sicilian Dinner

Morning: Travel toward Ragusa. If you’re flying into Catania (CTA) or Comiso (CIY), aim for a late-morning arrival so you can be in Ibla by early afternoon. If driving, plan parking outside Ibla’s ZTL and walking in; if bussing from CTA, it’s ~2 hours to Ragusa.

Afternoon: Check in, then fuel up at I Banchi with a cappuccino and a still-warm maritozzo or a savory scaccia. Stroll to the Duomo di San Giorgio and Piazza Duomo, then join this expertly paced introduction to the city:

3-hour walking tour Discovering Ragusa Baroque — wind through panoramic stairways linking Ragusa Superiore and Ibla, pause at UNESCO-listed churches, and learn how the 1693 rebuild shaped today’s streetscapes.

Before sunset, detour to Santa Maria delle Scale for the classic dome-and-rooftops view. Then amble down to Giardino Ibleo to watch golden hour wash the valley.

Evening: For an unforgettable, hands-on dinner, cook with a local host:

Private cooking class with lunch or dinner at a local's home in Ragusa — a 3-hour private lesson where you’ll prepare a seasonal starter, fresh pasta, and a Sicilian dessert, then dine together with paired wines.

Prefer to eat out? Book Ristorante Duomo for a destination tasting menu rooted in Ragusan terroir, or keep it convivial at Locanda Don Serafino Restaurant (think red prawns, pasta with ricotta and wild fennel). For a sweet finale, try Gelati Divini—Nero d’Avola or Modica chocolate gelato pairs beautifully with the evening air. Nightcap: Caffè Basaki (Ragusa Superiore) mixes creative cocktails and often live music.

Day 2: Craft, Gardens, and One Last Sicilian Feast (Departure Day)

Morning: Start at Pasticceria Di Pasquale with an almond granita and brioche or a classic cannolo filled to order. Then get tactile with Ragusa’s artisan tradition:

2-Hour Pottery Making Workshop in Ragusa — shape and sculpt ceramics under a master’s eye, learning time-honored techniques you’ll remember long after your piece dries.

Afterward, slip back into Ibla’s lanes for a last wander—peek inside Chiesa di San Giuseppe, then loop the Giardino Ibleo promenade for sweeping views and a bench break beneath the palm trees.

Afternoon: Enjoy a send-off lunch before your bus or drive. Grab a rustic board and a glass of Cerasuolo at Salumeria Barocco, or go homestyle at a neighborhood trattoria with cavatieddi and pork ragù. If you’re heading to Catania Airport, budget ~2 hours for the bus (plus a buffer). For train or bus options and tickets, check Omio Trains or Omio Buses; for flights within Europe, see Omio Flights.

Evening (if you have extra time): Drive to Castello di Donnafugata (20–25 minutes) to tour noble apartments and the garden maze, then catch the rosy light back in Ibla. Otherwise, one last espresso and a biscotto before the road.

Insider Tips

• Timing: Many churches reopen after 4 pm; plan interiors late-day and exteriors earlier.
• Driving: Respect ZTL in Ibla and Superiore. Park in signed lots on the perimeter and walk in.
• Food shopping: Bring home Ragusano DOP and local olive oil; ask for vacuum sealing at delis.
• Wine: Seek out Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG and Frappato from the Vittoria area; most wine bars in Ibla pour both by the glass.

Ragusa rewards unhurried wandering—two days is just enough to fall for its Baroque silhouette, generous kitchens, and golden Sicilian light. With a few well-chosen experiences and plenty of time to stroll, you’ll depart already plotting a longer return to the Val di Noto.