House 'DOROTHEA'

Ragusa: Location and surroundings of this property

Ragusa Ibla, on the southernmost tip of Sicily, declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2002, is one of the Baroque excellence centers in the Val di Noto. With ancient origins dating back to the Neolithic period, it stands on the site of the famous Hibla Heraia. Throughout history, it has witnessed all the dominations that have crossed the island, each leaving its own mark and forming a stratification of cultures that have together created a "UNICUM": from the Greeks to the Romans, from the Arabs to the Normans, under whom it became an autonomous County. After the disastrous earthquake of 1693, Ragusa rose again, unlike other centers, on the same site. This means that it has a medieval layout along with scenic squares and Baroque palaces with facades made of golden local stone. It has always been called the "island within the island" due to its history and the different economic context from the rest of Sicily. Its territory can be considered a small microcosm because it encompasses diverse landscapes within a few kilometers: coastlines with fine golden sand bathed by the Mediterranean Sea, a countryside rich in carob trees characterized by dry stone walls, hills with gentle green slopes of olive trees, deep canyons carved over millennia by impetuous rivers, and a generous and rich land that has also influenced the character of the inhabitants, who are hospitable and open to novelties. In recent years, Ragusa has taken a broader perspective, investing heavily in hospitality with a focus on the tourist port of Marina di Ragusa, the most beautiful and well-equipped in southern Italy, and the Comiso airport, just twenty minutes from Ragusa. Culture, archaeology, art, tradition, gastronomy, and unspoiled territory are the strengths of this city where it is still possible to live on a human scale.