Ragusa

Ragusa is a city of about 75,000 people, built on a wide limestone hill between two deep valleys. We are staying in the old city, Ragusa Ibla, which has views across to the new city.

The city was rebuilt with many baroque buildings after the 1693 earthquake and most of the population moved to a new settlement known as "Ragusa Superiore" (Upper Ragusa). The old and new cities became one in 1926, and Ragusa became the provincial capital a year later at the expense of Modica. Along with seven other cities in the Val di Noto, Ragusa is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We visited Duomo San Giorgio which is near our hotel in the old city. It was built in 1738 and is beautiful inside, with striking statues and decorations.

Had lunch in front of the Duomo before our first swim back at our hotel.

Later in the day we drove over to the old town through narrow, windy and steep streets. The view back to Ragusa Ibla made the drive worth it!

Vegetarians and vegans, stop reading now.

Went out for a lovely dinner and for the first time we both started with pasta.

But expected a bit more with our veal and pork than just the marsala and tomato sauce, great as they were.