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Revision as of 12:54, 18 June 2004 by Vanished user 5zariu3jisj0j4irj (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Ragusa is a province of Sicily the large mountainous volcanic island off the most extreme south-west point of Italy. Ragusa is in the south-east of the island. The province has a land area of 1,600 square kilometres. The population is 300,000. Tourism seems to have now replaced the fishing and farming industries as the principal source of employment.
Ragusa has twelve towns these are Acate, Chiaramonte Gulfi, Comiso, Giarratana, Ispica, Modica, Monterosso Almo, Pozzallo, Ragusa, Santa Croce Camerina, Scicli, Vittoria.
From Scoglitti to Pozzallo, the Ragusan coastline, is approximately 50 kilometres long, along the Ragusan coast are many fishing villages such as Casuzze, Kaukana, and Marina di Modica. The skyline of Ragusa is frequently punctuated by the towers, domes and cupolas of the many exquisite churches for which the province is famed. The area is mostly unspoilt, during the 19th century and early 20th century there was large migration form Ragusa to the more prosperous areas of Italy
Ragusa is the province's principal city. Built on a wide limestone hill between two deep valleys, Cava San Leonardo and Cava Santa Domenica. The city has two distinct areas, the lower region Ragusa Ibla, and the higher Ragusa. The two halves are separated by the valle dei ponti. Valle dei Ponti is a deep ravine crossed by four bridges. One of them the 18th century Pont dei Cappuccinni is particularly beautiful. In 1693 the city was devastated by a huge earthquake, following this catastrophe the Ibla region of the city was rebuilt, many magnificent baroque buildings date from this period.
One of the finest buildings is The Cathedral Of San Giovanni Battista: Built between 1718 and 1778, its principal façade is pure baroque, containing fine carvings and sculptures. The cathedral hasa high campanile in the same style. The ornate baroque interior is separated into three colonnaded aisles. The columns embellished with gold. The Zacco Palace is one of the more beautiful baroque buildings of the city, its corinthean columns support balconies of amazing wrought iron work, while caryatids of grotesques mock, shock or amuse the passer-by by.
At Acate is the Castle of the Prince of Biscari constructed originally in 1494, it is a commanding feature of the Town Square . The construction of the castle was ordered by Baron Guglielmo Raimondo, its golden coloured stonework has been modified many times during is long history, it now appears more as an 18th century palazzo than a castle, although some crenelations and towers remain.
Ragusa has changed dramatically over the last 20 years largely due to tourism, however, in many places it remains untouched by the last two centuries, and has escaped unscathed from the excesses of discovery by the travelling world. In places one can still live there and feel oneself to be in the 18th century.