Ragusa is one of three stunning cities in Val di Noto, Sicily. Alongside Ragusa, nearby Modica captivates visitors with a similar charm, while Noto stands out for its impressive collection of Baroque churches and architecture.
If you have the time in your itinerary, visiting all three of these cities is worthwhile, but if we had to pick just one, Ragusa is the winner.
This small city is super fun to explore and photograph. Simply strolling the streets tops the list of things to do in Ragusa, but there are also a few important historical sites to visit as well.
In this guide, we cover exactly what to do on a quick visit to Ragusa. Like Noto and Modica, Ragusa can be explored in about half of a day. We will share the best things to do in Ragusa, where to get the best views of Ragusa Ibla, where to eat, plus the logistics of getting here and around.
Best Things to Do in Ragusa
There are two parts to Ragusa: Ragusa Superiore (the upper town) and Ragusa Ibla (the lower town). These two sections are divided by Valle de Ponti, a deep ravine.
This list of things to do in Ragusa is listed geographically, starting with Ragusa Superiore and ending in Ragusa Ibla. This list is also in order of our walking route through town, which you can see in the map later in this guide.
The walking route starts at Parcheggio Repubblica.
1. Panoramic Views of Ragusa
You can get a wonderful panoramic view of Ragusa from SS115. If you drive to Ragusa from Modica or Noto, you will take this road, so this view will be your first introduction to beautiful Ragusa.
Places to Visit in Ragusa Superiore
2. Chiesa delle Santissime Anime del Purgatorio
From the parking lot, it is a 5-minute walk to Piazza della Repubblica and this church. We didnโt find the inside of the church to be all that interesting, but you get a great view looking up at Ragusa Superiore.
Chiesa delle Santissime Anime del Purgatorio
The view from the terrace of the church, looking up at Ragusa Superiore
Across the small piazza from the church is Trattoria Agli Archi. This is a good spot to get a cup of coffee or a small snack.
From here, youโll start heading uphill, so fuel up! โ๏ธ
3. Palazzo Cosentini & Santa Maria dellโItria
Sitting just behind the trattoria is a staircase that leads up to Palazzo Cosentini and the Church of Santa Maria dellโItria. These were not open during our visit but their Baroque facades are beautiful. As you climb higher and gaze across Ragusa Superiore and Ragusa Ibla, the blue dome you will see belongs to Santa Maria dellโItria.
The front faรงades of Palazzo Cosentini and the Church of Santa Maria dellโItria
The bell tower of Santa Maria dellโItria
4. Church of St. Mary of the Stairs
This small church is perched on a hill in Ragusa Superiore. It gets its name for the staircases that surround it, which also indicates just how hilly this part of Ragusa is.
The terrace that sits in front of the church is one of the best photo spots in Ragusa. Hereโs the view.
Church of St Mary of the Stairs
Itโs well worth going inside of this church. The side chapels are decorated with old but very well-preserved frescoes (the Purgatory Chapel) and a terracotta altarpiece (the Dormitio Virginis Chapel).
From the church, climb up the next set of stairs for our favorite view of Ragusa. Here you get a panoramic view of the church and Ragusa Ibla.
Getting here from the Palazzo and Santa Maria dellโItria:
A maze of streets and tunnels runs up to the Church of the Stairs. Google Maps isnโt aware of all of the tunnels and stairs, so here are our instructions, to help save you some steps:
From Santa Maria dellโItria, continue following Salita Commendatore and in a short distance it will end at a cross street (Via Scale). Turn right onto Via Scale.
Follow Via Scale up the stairs and then you will pass through two short tunnels, coming out onto the street Corso Mazzini. When you reach the street, turn right in order to walk around a building and then take the staircase immediately on the right. In a short distance take the tunnel on the right. After passing through the tunnel, take the steps on the left and you will come out onto a hairpin turn of Corso Mazzini. You will now be one level below the Church of St Mary of the Stairs. Take the stairs on the hairpin turn up to the church.
OPTIONAL: If you want to limit your time and walking, this is a good point to turn around, head back down to the trattoria by retracing the walking route, to head over to Ragusa Ibla. The next two sites are interesting but not absolute must-seeโs, and they require more walking.
5. Palazzo Zacco
From the Church of Saint Mary of the Stairs, walk up Via 24 Maggio until you get to an intersection. This is a very pretty spot, with the stone buildings and a jumble of streets.
Turn left onto Via Scuole and then make your first right onto Corso Vittorio Veneto. Walk to the intersection with Via S. Vito and you will see Palazzo Zacco on your left.
This palace is notable for its wrought-iron balconies that are decorated with grotesque masks.
6. Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista
This cathedral sits at the top of Ragusa Superiore. It features a Baroque exterior and a bell tower that you can climb. The bell tower is closed on Sunday (the same day as our visit). We werenโt able to climb the tower, but I imagine the views over Ragusa are amazing. Itโs 129 steps to the first level and then another 36 steps to the panoramic terrace. There is a fee to climb the tower but the church is free to visit.
To get here from Palazzo Zacco, walk up Corso Vittorio Veneto for a few blocks and the cathedral will be on your right.
Places to Visit in Ragusa Ibla
Now we head into Ragusa Ibla. From the cathedral (or the Church of Saint Mary of the Stairs) retrace your steps back to Chiesa delle Santissime Anime del Purgatorio. This is another opportunity to stop at Trattoria Agli Archi, for a snack or a quick break.
7. Duomo di San Giorgio & Piazza Duomo
It is a scenic walk to get to Duomo di San Giorgio, the centerpiece of Ragusa Ibla.
From the trattoria, youโll walk a maze of streets to get to the cathedral. Itโs a scenic walk, with beautiful views of the dome. Here is the order of the streets (or you can follow the walking route on our map): Via del Mercato โ turn right onto Via XI Febbraio โ left onto Via SantโAgnese โ left onto Via Tenente di Stefano โ Via Capitano Bocchieri.
Via Capitano Bocchieri
The Cathedral of Saint George dates back to 1775. It has a beautiful Baroque faรงade and inside are numerous side chapels. The neoclassical dome was added in 1820.
Duomo di San Giorgio (the Cathedral of Saint George)
Piazza Duomo is the large square that sits in front of the cathedral. It is lined with cafes and restaurants and a few boutique shops.
Piazza Duomo
Circolo di Conversazione (Conversation Circle) is a building that was constructed in 1850 as a โconversation club.โ Its purpose was to give members of the aristocracy a place where they could converse, away from the common people. It is located at the far end of the piazza and is open for tours early in the day.
Circolo di Conversazione
8. Chiesa di San Giuseppe
This looks like a smaller version of the Cathedral of Saint George, with its Baroque faรงade. Itโs worth a quick photo as you walk from Piazza Duomo to Giardino Ibleo.
Getting Here & to the Gardens: From Piazza Duomo, walk Corso XXV Aprile. Chiesa di San Giuseppe sits on Piazza Pola. Continue along Corso XXV Aprile to get to the park.
9. Giardino Ibleo (Hyblean Garden)
This very pretty park features walkways decorated by ornate columns, several small churches, a playground for kids, and views of the surrounding hills.
10. Portale di San Giorgio
This is the last remaining portion of Saint George Church, which was destroyed during the 1693 earthquake. The Gothic portal portrays Saint George killing a dragon. This ancient gate sits on Via dei Normanni, a very short walk from the garden.
Returning to the Parking Lot: From here, it is a 1.3 km/.8 mile walk (15 โ 20 minutes) to get back to the parking lot. You can either retrace the walk back through Ragusa Ibla or walk along the outskirts of the town, on Via Avvocato Giovanni Ottaviano. We took this road, which is more of a direct shot to the parking lot and a very nice walk, with views looking up at Ragusa Superiore.
Where We Ate
We had lunch at Ciaciรฒ Pane & Vino, a small restaurant located in front of Giardino Ibleo. On the menu are soups, sandwiches, and meat and cheese boards. Other places nearby that get good reviews are Osteria del Pane Cunzato and Risรฌu.
Ragusa Walking Tour & Map
Below is a map labeled with the top things to do in Ragusa plus a walking route through town.
How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left corner of the map to see a list of the points of interest and to turn layers on/off. Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest.
To take this map with you, click the star next to the title of the map which adds it to your Google account. Next, within your Google Maps app, select ‘Saved’ and then select ‘Maps’. This map title will now appear in your list.
Things to Do Near Ragusa
Modica
Modica is another gorgeous city in Val di Noto. Like Ragusa, there are two parts to Modica, Modica Alta and Modica Bassa. Stone buildings line the hillsides of this town, making it one of the most photogenic cities in Sicily. Modica is famous for its chocolate, which follows an ancient Aztec process. It takes about half of a day to visit Modica and it can easily be combined with Noto.
Best Things to Do in Modica, Sicily (+ Short Walking Tour!)
Everything you need to know to plan a visit to Modica.Noto
Noto is famous for its UNESCO-listed city center, long list of churches, and Baroque architecture. A visit here takes 2 to 4 hours, depending on how many churches you visit. We visited Noto in the morning and Modica in the afternoon.
Noto, Sicily | Best Things to Do on a Quick Visit & Walking Tour
Walking tour and best things to do in Noto, perfect for a half to a full day visit.Syracuse & Ortigia
Syracuse sits on the east coast of Sicily and contains several of the most important archaeological sites in Sicily, with a Greek theater, Roman amphitheater, and Temple of Apollo. Ortigia is the small island in Syracuse that is a delight to explore.
It takes one day to visit Syracuse and Ortigia. Syracuse also makes a great home base for exploring the Val di Noto towns (Noto, Modica, and Ragusa).
10 Things to Do in Syracuse & Ortigia, Sicily
Top things to do in Syracuse and Ortigia, plus where to eat and where to stay.PLANNING YOUR TIME: You can see a more detailed version of this in our Sicily Itinerary, but here is a quick overview for how to plan your time in Val di Noto.
Spend one day in Syracuse and Ortigia. On day 2, drive to Noto, spend the morning here and then spend the afternoon in Modica. We stayed in Modica at Itria Modica, but you can also stay in Noto or Ragusa. On day 3, visit Ragusa, and again, stay in Modica, Noto, or Ragusa. From Val di Noto, we traveled west to the Valley of the Temples.
Which is Better: Ragusa, Modica or Noto?
We really enjoyed visiting all three of these cities, but if we had to pick a favorite, Ragusa would be the winner. The streets are fun to photograph and explore, we loved the views from the Church of Saint Mary of the Stairs, and we enjoyed spending time in the piazzas and the garden. If you like the idea of wandering through a small, picturesque town without a big to-do list, Ragusa is perfect.
Modica is a very close second. This is also a very photogenic town and again, exploring its streets is a lot of fun. Tasting the Modica chocolate is also a nice perk. Some people may be put off by the hefty hill climbs in this town, as Modica feels like more of a workout than Ragusa.
Noto is lovely and we liked it, but it feels a lot busier, with its long list of churches to visit.
With all that being said, they are all worth a visit and it takes about two days to visit Noto, Modica, and Ragusa. If you are a speed demon and picked a few key spots in each town, it would be possible to cram all three towns into one day.
How to Get to Ragusa
The best way to get to Ragusa is by car. This gives you more freedom to travel on your own schedule and add on places that are challenging to get to using public transportation.
Itโs possible to travel by train to Ragusa. Trains from Catania take about 4 hours, usually with one transfer.
There are also several tours that include Noto and Ragusa. This small group tour from Catania includes Noto, Modica, and Ragusa. If you will be staying in Syracuse, you can hire this driver to take you to Noto, Modica, and Ragusa.
Parking in Ragusa
The best place to park in Ragusa is at Parcheggio Repubblica. This is a fairly large parking lot that sits just outside of the city. The white spaces are free and the blue spaces are paid using the Easy Park app or the automatic machines in the parking lot.
Where to Stay in Ragusa
Evoca is a gorgeous property that gets near perfect reviews. It is located in Ragusa Ibla and rooms have views of the valley.
Iblaresort Boutique Hotel is located next to Chiesa delle Santissime Anime del Purgatorio (the starting point of our walking route) and offers a wide variety of room types.
A.D. 1768 Boutique Hotel is located in Ragusa Ibla, gets exceptional reviews, and offers standard rooms plus suites.
If you want a great view of the dome of the Duomo, take a look at Il Duomo Relais.
If you have any questions about the best things to do in Ragusa or how to plan a trip to Ragusa, let us know in the comment section below.
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