"Casa Morfeo" in the heart of Ragusa Ibla

Ragusa Ibla, located in the southernmost corner of Sicily and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002, is one of the preeminent Baroque centers of 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 seen all the rulers that crossed the island, each leaving their own mark and forming a stratification of cultures that together created a true "UNICUM": from the Greeks to the Romans, and from the Arabs to the Normans, under whom it became an autonomous county. Following the disastrous earthquake of 1693, Ragusa was rebuilt—unlike other towns—on the exact same site. As a result, it combines a medieval layout with spectacular squares and Baroque palaces featuring facades made of the golden local stone. It has always been called an "island within an island" due to its history and an economic context distinct from the rest of Sicily. Its territory can be considered a small microcosm because it encompasses diverse landscapes within just a few kilometers: coastlines of fine, golden sand washed by the Mediterranean Sea, countryside rich in carob trees and characterized by dry-stone walls, rolling green hills dotted with olive trees, deep canyons carved over millennia by rushing rivers, and a generous, rich land that has also shaped the character of its inhabitants, who are hospitable and open to novelty. In recent years, it has taken on a more international scope, investing heavily in hospitality by focusing on the tourist port of Marina di Ragusa—the most beautiful and well-equipped in southern Italy—and on Comiso Airport, just twenty minutes from Ragusa. Culture, archaeology, art, tradition, food and wine, and a pristine territory are the strengths of this city, where it is still possible to live on a human scale.