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Latest update: 9 June 2025
Baroque, wine ice cream, and donkey sausage? You bet, Ragusa has it all. Ragusa in Sicily is one of the baroque towns in the Val di Noto. Wander through the historic center and alternate between baroque churches and palazzos with terrace hopping. Ask for the house specialties, and suddenly, you’re on a culinary journey, too. I’m happy to share some travel tips for Ragusa with you.
How long do you need in Ragusa?
In my head, Ragusa was way bigger than it actually is. I read about long staircases, the modern district of Ragusa Superiore, and the historic part of Ragusa Ibla in guidebooks and online. So I thought I’d have to cover many miles to see everything. But Ragusa Ibla is tiny and totally walkable (and yes, those stairs are quite a workout), and Ragusa Superiore isn’t a must-see. That’s truly the modern part of town where you mainly find residential neighborhoods. Saves you some effort, right?
It works out well for me, too, since I only have one afternoon in Ragusa, and the next morning, it rains so hard that we decide to sleep in a bit and head to Caltagirone early. I recommend staying just one night in Ragusa, unless you’re planning to use it as a base for day trips. Otherwise, one day here is plenty.
Historic center Ragusa Ibla
The highlight of Ragusa is the historic center, Ragusa Ibla. It stretches from the Giardino Ibleo Park to the endless stairs leading to the Santa Maria delle Scale church on the other side of the old center. As you walk around here, you’ll naturally come across beautiful baroque palazzos and churches. Ragusa has more than 60 churches – well, you wouldn’t want to be short one, right?
Ragusa, like other cities in the Val di Noto, was destroyed by an earthquake in 1693. The modern part was then built higher up (hence those stairs). Still, the noble families who lost their palaces in Ragusa Ibla decided to rebuild in the same spot. That’s why the medieval twists and turns in the little streets are still so present. And since the baroque style was super popular around that time, you see it everywhere. That’s also why these Val di Noto cities are on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Walking tour in Ragusa
The timing didn’t work out for me, but I always enjoy a walking tour with a guide. In Ragusa, you can explore the historic center at a reasonable price with the guidance of this tour.
The Duomo of Ragusa
The Duomo of Ragusa looks proudly out over the little square in the center. Here, you’ll find various bars, restaurants, and shops, plus the San Giorgio cathedral. San Giorgio is Ragusa’s patron saint. We know him as Saint George, and he’s usually depicted on horseback killing a dragon.
The artistic decorations of the duomo are all in baroque style. Behind the bell tower, there’s also a beautiful dome. That was only built when the cathedral had already been standing for almost a century.
Take a detour through Giardino Ibleo
Giardino Ibleo is Ragusa Ibla’s city park. It’s beautifully laid out, featuring palm trees, paths, and fountains. There are plenty of benches, a handful of churches, and especially lots of views over the mountains and hills around Ragusa.
The best view of the old town
Now it’s really time to conquer those stairs. I didn’t count them myself, and sometimes I read there are 300; other sources are more cautious and write 260. Either way, it’s quite a climb. You need to get to the Santa Maria delle Scale church. There, you have a beautiful view of the rooftops of Ragusa Ibla, though the church itself isn’t that impressive.
As you descend back toward the old town, you’ll also come across the bluebell tower that you see in many photos of Ragusa. It’s pretty hidden between the buildings, so keep your eyes peeled so you don’t miss it!
Eat some wine ice cream
Of course, you eat gelato in Sicily. But have you tried one with wine flavor yet? Well, I have. At Gelati DiVini, I order a cup with white wine ice cream and one with red wine ice cream. For me, the white wine ice cream is clearly the winner, but I’m more of a white wine person than red wine anyway. A cup of wine ice cream costs €3.50 ($3.80 in 2024).
Appetizer platter at Salumeria Barocco
Along Corsa XXV Aprile, there are many nice cafes with outdoor seating. Around aperitivo time, I choose Salumeria Barocco and order an appetizer platter. It’s huge. I can skip dinner after this. They have a beautiful selection of cheeses, hams, and dry sausages here. And an unexpected surprise: donkey sausage. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten that before. It turns out to be a typical Sicilian sausage. Pretty intense in flavor but tasty. Sorry Eeyore!
Quick walk and lunch in Ragusa Superiore
I take a small loop through Ragusa Superiore near my accommodation and leave it at that. This does mean I miss the many murals in that part of town. For four years, FestiWall was held in Ragusa, resulting in a total of thirty artworks. And you can probably find some nice cafes and restaurants there too, but then you’d need insider tips.
My accommodation owner sends me to Trattoria La Suocera, his favorite local restaurant. It’s very Italian; not a word of English is spoken, and the dishes are nicely rustic. The restaurant is located deep in Ragusa Superiore, though, so if you really have to walk there, I’d recommend picking something else. It’s a good lunch, but it’s not super special.
I do take a look at the gigantic San Giovanni Battista cathedral. The facade is richly decorated in baroque style. If the church is open, you can also climb the bell tower.
Parking in Ragusa
Ragusa Ibla is car-free, mainly, and where you can drive, it’s questionable whether you’d want to, given the narrow streets and many curves. So it’s best to park in Ragusa Superiore and then descend to the old center. Try this parking garage, for example. Luckily, I can park my car at my accommodation in Ragusa; see below.
And if you still need to rent a car, compare prices and conditions well. Definitely check out DiscoverCars and Rentalcars.com.
Accommodation in Ragusa
I stay in Ragusa Superiore. Casa vacanza home Ragusa is an apartment that’s a bit dark but fully and comfortably furnished. And I can park right in front, very convenient. From this location, you walk into the old town at the stairs. On the way back ‘home’ you have to tackle all those stairs again.
More Sicily travel inspiration
Useful links for your Sicily trip
- Accommodation. Always handy is Booking.com. Rather stay in a hostel? Try HostelWorld.
- Activities. Book the best tours and activities at GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator. Book “free” walking tours at Freetour or GuruWalk , and for bike tours, Baja Bikes.
- Attractions and museums. For 5% off museums and attractions, use discount code KIMOPREIS22 at Tiqets.
- Car rental. Compare prices and insurance coverage at DiscoverCars and Rentalcars.com.
- Flights. Compare all your options! Definitely Skyscanner, and Kiwi.
- Guide books. I love the practical guides by Lonely Planet, for sale at Bol.com and Amazon.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? Start your search at Expedia or CheapOair.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high phone and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
- Yoga retreat. Or join a yoga retreat in Sicily.
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