Ragusa - Old Town Ibla

On leaving the municipal park in Ragusa the visitor will see signs to the archeological site, where a few years ago the first traces of the ancient town of Hybla Heraia were discovered. There is a street lined with buildings dating from the Greek period; a plan helps to get one's bearings.

The Chiesa dei Cappuccini Vecchi in Ragusa contains a masterpiece by Pietro Novelli (1603-47), "The Assumption of the Virgin Mary".

On the Piazza Pola in Ragusa, stands the Chiesa di San Giuseppe (church of St Joseph), also built by R. Gagliardi. The front is most dynamic in appearance, while the interior is elliptical in plan and richly embellished. The silver statue of St Joseph is 16th century.

There is an art gallery in the Palazzo Donnafugata in Ragusa. From here Corso 25 leads to the nearby municipal park, the Giardino Ibleo with rows of palm trees. At the entrance stands the finely sculpted portal from the 15th century church of San Giorgio Vecchio destroyed in the 1693 earthquake. In the garden itself the belvedere offers a beautiful view over the mountainous countryside, while the bell-tower faced with majolica belongs to the church of San Domenico.

Unless the short return route to Ragusa Ibla rail station is preferred, the best way back is via the Piazza Chiaramonte, with the Palazzo of the same name and the 16th century Church of San Francesco d'Assisi all'Immacolata; the 13th century Gothic door on the west end is worth seeing. Via Chiaramonte leads into Via Mercato which - after passing the row of arches forming the front of a splendid Baroque market-hall - brings the visitor back to the starting point at Piazza della Repubblica.