Ragusa
Ragusa is a Baroque hilltown in southeastern Sicily, split in two by a ravine, with churches rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake and a strong food tradition.
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Ragusa is a hilltown in southeastern Sicily and the capital of Ragusa province. It is Italy's southernmost provincial capital, on a limestone plateau about 20 km from the sea on average. The city has two halves: Ragusa Ibla, the old lower quarter, and Ragusa Superiore, the newer upper town. The Valle dei Ponti ravine separates them, and four bridges cross it, including the eighteenth-century Ponte dei Cappuccini, also called Ponte Vecchio. Ragusa is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Baroque towns of the Val di Noto, inscribed in 2002.
Most Baroque buildings date from the rebuilding after the 1693 earthquake, which killed about 5,000 people. Ibla alone has more than fifty churches, and the Duomo di San Giorgio is reached by about 250 steps. Local food is a draw too, including Caciocavallo Ragusano cheese and Cerasuolo red wine, made mainly around Vittoria. Winters are rainy from October to March, so spring and autumn suit a visit best. Plan one or two days for the old towns, and add time for the sea, about 20 km away on average.
Ragusa in five
- Sleep in Ibla for the eveningsIbla is the older, lower quarter with the cathedral square and most restaurants, and it is quiet after day-trippers leave. Ragusa Superiore has the station and shops but less atmosphere.Sicily
- Use a car, or plan around the busTrains are slow and infrequent in this part of Sicily, and buses link towns on set timetables. A car makes a Val di Noto loop easy, though parking in Ibla is tight.
- Link Ragusa with Modica and NotoThe three towns sit within about an hour of each other, so you can base in one and see the others by car or bus. Each has a distinct baroque center.Modica
- Allow a ferry crossing from the mainlandComing down from Calabria you cross the Strait of Messina by ferry, so allow extra hours and check sailing times before you book onward buses.Reggio Calabria
Things to do in Ragusa
See all attractions in Ragusa
Need to know
- Airport
- Catania (CTA), about 1.5 to 2 hours by road; Comiso (CIY) has limited flights
- Getting there
- Car or bus from Catania or Syracuse; slow train
- Getting around
- On foot in Ibla; car or bus between towns
- Best base
- Ibla for atmosphere, Ragusa Superiore for parking and rail
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 nights; 3 to 4 with Modica and Noto
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°Cool, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Cool, dampFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, damp
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Spring startsMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring starts
- AprilPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Green, EasterAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 36 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, Easter
- MayClear8 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Warm, wildflowersMayClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, wildflowers
- JuneClear5 rainy daysHigh29°Low19°Warm, long daysJuneClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 30 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, long days
- JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh32°Low22°Hot, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 10 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear6 rainy daysHigh31°Low22°Hottest, FerragostoAugustClear
Good
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 28 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest, Ferragosto
- SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh27°Low19°Warm, calmerSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calmer
- OctoberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh23°Low16°Mild, harvestOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, harvest
- NovemberRain12 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°Rain, coolerNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 109 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, cooler
- DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Quiet, coldDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, cold
Average daily high and low in Ragusa, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Ragusa
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
12
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 92%
- Wind
- 25 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 8%
Ragusa
06:03 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today18°11°8%Tuesday: Fog. High 18°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Wed18°11°6%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Thu18°12°23%Thursday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 23%.
- Fri18°13°28%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 28%.
- Sat17°12°7%Saturday: Fog. High 17°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 7%.
- Sun18°11°18%Sunday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Mon19°12°18%Monday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 18%.
Updated 04:17 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Before you go to Ragusa
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Rules for Ragusa, checked
- Many nationalities need no visa for Italy, but requirements depend on your passport. Check entry rules on vistaitalia.esteri.it before you book.Source
- Carry your passport or national ID card, as hotels and police may ask to see it.
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
- Many restaurants add a cover charge (coperto) and some add a service charge, so check the bill before you tip.
Plan around Ragusa
Regions, cities and the rules every visitor needs
Read the guideSicilyThe island's cities, coasts and the volcano
Read the guideModicaThe chocolate town on the next hill
Read the guideNotoThe golden baroque showpiece of the Val di Noto
Read the guideCataniaThe main airport and a sea-level base
Read the guideGetting around EuropeRental, trains and buses compared
Read the guideRagusa FAQ
Is Ragusa worth visiting?
Yes, for the baroque lanes of Ibla, its cathedral square and the hill setting. It is quiet compared with Sicily's big cities and works best as part of a Val di Noto trip with Modica and Noto.
Should you stay in Ragusa Ibla or Ragusa Superiore?
Ibla for atmosphere and evening walks, as long as you accept stairs and tight parking. Superiore for the station, shops and easier parking, with a taxi or bus down to Ibla.
How many days do you need in Ragusa?
One night covers Ibla and the cathedral at a relaxed pace. Add a second night for the Giardini Iblei or day trips to Modica and Noto, and use a car if you can.
Can you visit Ragusa without a car?
Yes, but it takes more planning. Buses link Ragusa with Modica, Noto and Catania on fixed timetables, and trains are slow. A car gives more freedom for a loop of the baroque towns.
Which is better: Ragusa, Modica or Noto?
Ragusa for the hill setting and Ibla, Noto for the most polished baroque streets and Modica for chocolate and steep lanes. If you can only see one, pick Noto for architecture or Ragusa for atmosphere.