It’s hard to resist the charm of Sicily; this large island where the beautiful season seems never to end. Among its many splendid corners is the province of Ragusa, shaped by wild nature and wonderful baroque towns.
Places like Puntasecca, Marina di Ragusa, Donnalucata, Scicli, Noto, Pachino, Capo Passero and Ispica, besides being the setting of the popular TV series Inspector Montalbano (a character born from the pen of the very Sicilian Andrea Camilleri), offer welcoming beaches and countless opportunities for holidays for both young and old.
They are also convenient bases to discover the architectural treasures of the area, starting from the capital Ragusa, which, after the 1693 earthquake, was rebuilt in baroque style in two separate parts: the older, eastern and lower part, heir to the millenary Hybla, and the upper part, on the plateau, developed on a grid. The first, overlapping the medieval city, opens up corners of great architectural and visual appeal. Dominating it is the Church of San Giorgio, with its lavish baroque facade and central bell tower, reachable via a monumental staircase.
A visit should not be missed to the Cathedral from the first half of the 18th century and the Ibleo Archaeological Museum, divided into sections from prehistory to the paleochristian era. Like almost all Sicilian cities, Ragusa also boasts gastronomy as its crowning jewel. Famous cheeses: Ragusan provola, Iblean ricotta, and Ragusan Dop caciocavallo. Traditional dishes are always on the tables: pasta ‘ncasciata, with cauliflower sautéed in a pan; tripe a l’olivitana, first cooked in a pan with eggplants, boiled eggs and primo sale, then baked; licordiana-style rabbit, cooked in a tomato preserve sauce with herbs; turkey stuffed with meat and pasta. Typical and irresistible sweets include the almond bianco mangiare, nuncàtoli, biscuits with dried fruit, honey and citron marmalade. And, naturally, the ever-present cassata.
