The Old and New Ragusa
Ragusa is devided into the newer Ragusa Superior and the older Ragusa Ibla. Ibla is a spectacular mix of nar
row streets, steep winding steps, old churches, and fantastic views.
In 1693 Ragusa was hit by a terrible earthquake that destroyed most of the town. When the ragusan had to decide where to rebuild their town they split into two groups. The San Giorgians (the nobels) that stayed in Ibla rebuilt the old town and the magnificent Duomo di San Giorgio, and the working class that moved onto the new site of Ragusa and built the Cathedral of San Giovanni and the new city. The old church of San Giorgio (XIV) was badly damaged and most of its stones were used to build the new Duomo (XVIII), only the Portal of the ancient church was spared by the earthquake and recostruction.
Ragusa is the capital of its province and today is an active city with over 72.000 inhabitants. Since 2002 it is part of the [url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1024]UNESCO World Heritage[/url] with 18 buildings in Ragusa on the list.
There is a project to convert the old railway-line running north past [wiki=bc42b19b5d438e467774a3b15025d9c5]Chiaramonte Gulfi[/wiki] and to Vizzini (the track is already gone) into a bicycle-track.
From Catania take SS114 and turn for Lentini SS194. From there follow sign to Ragusa on the SS514.
From Siracusa take the motorway A18 and then the SS115.
From Agrigento/Gela follow the SS.115
There are busses from [wiki=961174d7a62e6304244ccca4ea15b28c]Syracuse[/wiki], [wiki=557cafad824cf42623a4124c2eeb60f2]Catania[/wiki], [wiki=b1ff16fe514bb9cc0e243d5b6e7dcb59]Modica[/wiki], [wiki=e23c9b86d4b200e6c9cafc0b6d3a63fc]Vittoria[/wiki], Marina di Ragusa, [wiki=fcab6e03a720a2645b78519376b6b3b3]Noto[/wiki], [wiki=8191692ba6c002b14b07549113e62125]Palermo[/wiki] (4h, €12), [wiki=1f49f770adc6c84629f50ce3ca2a2109]Rome[/wiki] (SAIS Trasporti).
The bus terminal is in the new part of Ragusa in Via Zama. Bus companies operating from Ragusa:
It is possible to reach Ragusa by train, the central train station is in the new part of town in Piazza Gramsci. The old stations of Ragusa Ibla and Ragusa Genisi have been closed, and the station of Ragusa Donnafugata gets used to visit the Castle. On the train from Siracusa to Ragusa takes about 2 hours.
http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html
The nearest airport is in Catania (code:CTA) at 97km from Ragusa.
http://www.aeroporto.catania.it/
The Ragusa/[wiki=79255141b7c445393dc1f4f5f2b5a29d]Comiso Airport[/wiki] (code:CIY) is at 18km from town and should be operating from March 2009.
http://www.soaco.it/
Palermo airport (code:PMO) is 274km from Ragusa.
http://www.gesap.it/
At few kilometers from Ragusa is the Aviosurface Giubiliana (code:RGGIU).
http://www.eremodellagiubiliana.it/
The port of Marina di Ragusa is at 24km, but at the moment there aren't any schedule ferris. In the near future there should by an Hydrofoil-service connecting Marina di Ragusa to Malta.
http://portoturisticomarinarg.it/
The nearest port is in Pozzallo at 34km, where there are ferries/hydrofoils from/to Malta, run by and Blue Wave Line and Virtu Ferries:
http://www.bluewaveline.com.mt/
http://www.virtuferries.com/