Many people don’t know Ragusa has two historical centres and therefore have some problems at choosing where to stay and how to move.
The centre of Ragusa and Ragusa Ibla are the two old towns, the first one has been rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake by some inhabitants who decided to move to an higher area where they built the current historical centre characterized with wider streets and late baroque churches and palaces and, as the centuries passed by, this part of the town widened up to the modern outskirts, while Ragusa Ibla is the ancient town, rebuilt in the same place where it used to be, it kept a part of the original structure that resisted the earthquake, like the narrow streets and the alleys of the medieval town where new palaces and churches have been built in late baroque style.
Two different districts of the same town, Ragusa is located in the upper area of the city, named Ragusa Superiore as well; Ragusa Ibla stands in the lower area, called “iusu” by the former citizens, and in the collective imagination looking at Ragusa Ibla up on the hill people could think to climb up to get there, while in reality, if you’re in Ragusa, you must climb down to reach it. .
The two parts of the city are connected to each other by stairs, a lovely walking path full of beautiful spots and alleys that joins the two historical centres and an absolute must for all travellers.
