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The Area |
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Describing the
Sicilian province of Ragusa to people who have never visited it, it is like
to tell a plot of a book to those who have not read it yet.
So, we
will make you to leaf through the most typical and charming pages of the
Iblea area. |
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POZZALLO
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Pozzallo means
"well close to the sea" because in the past there were some fresh
water wells used by the ships passing through.
It
overlooks a wide cove extending from Punta Raganzino to Contrada
Marza through beaches, dunes and small promontories.
The
presence of human settlements goes back to far ages: actually, cemeteries
and ruins – found by the archaeologist Paolo Orsi, coins of the Roman age
and further finds of the Byzantine age have been found.
Its
historical importance is relatively recent and dates back to the 14th
century, age in which the Chiaramontes’ family of the county of Modica
built a loader to transport goods by sea.
Afterwards, in
1429, because of the constant attacks of piracy to wheat and agriproducts
supplies, both a tower in defence of the loader and new warehouses were
built under the control of the Count Giovanni Bernardo Cabrera.
Little by little, the original hamlet around the tower is moved in a
farmhouse: the church consecrated to S. Maria of Portosalvo was built
in 1746 and only in 1829 Pozzallo became a self-governing town.
Nowadays, the Cabrera tower is both a very important national
monument from a historical point of view and the town’s coat of arms and
symbol. |
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Pozzallo is
the only seaside town of the province of Ragusa: it spreads 2 km out
over the Mediterranean sea and it pleases its inhabitants and tourists with
two big beaches with thin and gilt sand.
The
beach called Raganzino, placed in the homonymous district, is ideal
for those who love quiet places and it is equipped with bathing
establishments, bars, showers and various services. Moreover, it is possible
to admire the characteristic Di Martino Castle which dominates this
beach.
The
beach called Pietrenere is provided with a wide car-parking, a cycle
track, some bathing establishments, discopubs, ice-cream parlours, bars,
cafeterias and a playing area.
Since
the 2002 Pozzallo has been receiving the Bandiera Blu, a prize
which is only awarded to the cleanest and the most equipped beaches in
Italy.
Trips with the island of Malta are particularly well organized: it is also
possible to reach the Cavalieri island with a catamaran within an
hour and an half.
In the summer time, beach volley and soccer matches, lessons of
Latin-American dances and spin bike are also organized.
The Cabrera tower is both a very important national monument from a
historical point of view and the town’s coat of arms and symbol.
It is
also possible to visit Piazza Rimembranza, the Palazzo Musso,
the Palazzo Pandolfi and the Villa Tedeschi.
On the
main street of the town it is possible to visit the Palazzo di Città
which is surrounded by a beautiful park. In front of it, there is the Mother
Church consecrated to the Our Lady of the Rosary.
Giorgio
La Pira (1904-1977), "holy mayor" of the city of Florence, has been a
distinguished figure of the history of the town. |
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RAGUSA
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At 32 km away from Pozzallo, Ragusa is placed between two
valleys and has been declared UNESCO world heritage.
The
town is divided into two distinct cores, the modern town of Ragusa
and Ragusa Ibla.
In
Ragusa,
it
is
possible to visit the cathedral consecrated to Saint John the Baptist with
its majestic baroque portal and its stuccoes.
The
Archaeological Ibleo Museum, where various finds, ceramics and earthenware
statues (found through some excavations in the area around the city) are
exhibited, is divided into several sections: prehistory, Kamarina, Sicilian
culture, Hellenistic age, Roman and Byzantine age.
Rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693, the baroque Church of Our Lady of the
Stairs still preserves the portal and the pulpit of the medieval bell tower
and it rises on the top of 340 steps which join the town to Ibla.
In Ragusa
Ibla,
rich in medieval and baroque works of art, it is possible to admire the
cathedral of Saint George which rises in Piazza Duomo on the ruins of the
ancient church consecrated to Saint Nicholas – elegantly surrounded by
baroque buildings – where the human remains of the Count Cabrera (Count of
the town of Ragusa) are guarded.
Furthermore, it is also possible to visit: the portal of Saint George, the
Church of Our Lady of the Stairs, the Church of the Purgatory, the
Palazzo Nicastro, the Church of the Idria, the Palazzo Cosentini,
the Circolo of Conversazione, the Donnafugata castle and the
Church of Saint Joseph.
Finally, it is really worth to visit the
evocative Ibleo park which includes the Churches Of The Old Capuchins
and Saint James. |
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MODICA
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At 20 km away from Pozzallo, Modica has known as the
“one hundred churches” town. It is in a wide quarry which divides it in high
Modica and low Modica and
has been declared UNESCO world heritage for its priceless baroque beauties.
It was
the most important town in Sicily – in the past, it was defined Rome’s
granary – as capital of the county which corresponded mostly to the present
province of Ragusa.
In order to
appreciate deeply this lovely town rich in baroque beauties, it is necessary
to visit it by foot.
In
Modica, ancient small streets and steps cross each other and it is
possible to taste the famous chocolate which is still nowadays produce
according to the ancient Aztec recipe.
The
most important sights which is possible to see in this Baroque town are: the
cathedral of Saint George which overlooks the high part of the town with its
majestic 254 steps and the Church of Saint Peter, placed in the low town and
decorated with the statues of the twelve apostles.
Also
the Palace of the Mercedari, the Church of Our Lady of
Bethlehem, the rock Church of Saint Nicolas, the museum of popular arts and
traditions and the Counts’ castle are very important from a historical point
of view.
Furthermore, it is possible to visit the native house of the poet
Salvatore Quasimodo, awarded with the Nobel prize for literature. |
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NOTO
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At 20 km away from Pozzallo, Noto is defined "the stone
garden".
This
town, rich in art and culture, has also known as the "Baroque capital" and
has been declared UNESCO world heritage for its enormous historical-artistic
and natural heritage which charms the tourist visiting it.
The most important sights to see are: the cathedral – finished in 1776 and
consecrated to Saint Nicholas – which has, at the end of a three flights
stairs, a wide façade delimited by two bell towers. On the second floor, it
is also possible to see both the ruins of the dome, unfortunately collapsed
in 1996, and a wide part of the nave.
To the
sides of the cathedral, it is possible to admire the Palazzo Vescovile
and the Palazzo Landolina of Saint Alfano. It is also worth to visit:
the Palazzo Nicolaci where the prince Villadorata lived, the
Palazzo Ducezio which is the town hall, the Civic Museum, the Church of
Saint Francis, Palazzo Frigoria, the Church of Saint Charles, the
Church of Saint Dominic, the Church of the Most Holy Crucifix.
Every year, during the third Sunday of the month of May, it is possible to
admire the "Infiorata": in this occasion, the Corrado Nicolaci
street is covered with a floral carpet.
Nowadays, the “Infiorata” is considered one of the most beautiful
shows of the whole island. |
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VENDICARI
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For those who love the nature, the
natural reserve of Vendicari or
also known as "the oasis or fauna of Vendicari", is a real oasis of
peace and calm which extends on a surface of around 1512 hectares. The
particular climatic conditions of the oasis make it an area favourite by a
lot of different kinds of migratory birds.
Made by
a narrow strip of earth along the stretch of coast extending from Noto
to Pachino, the reserve of Vendicari is considered "the hotel
of the birds" (over 500 different species of birds): it is a place where
birds can feed and have a rest.
The
most numerous presences are recorded during the month of December, but also
in autumn and spring.
In this
reserve, it is also possible to admire some gorgeous landscapes such as: the
set of the 15th century castle and its tower, defined Swabian for
the typology of its base structure, the houses of fishermen, the salines,
the establishments where the fish is treated and the 18th century
“tonnara” with its smoke-stack. |
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DONNAFUGATA
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At
40 Km away from Pozzallo,
the
Donnafugata castle was built by the Baron Corrado Arezzo on a 13th
century old tower in 1800.
The
origin of the name “Donnafugata” is regional: actually, the dialect
name "Ronnafugata" means “woman escaped”.
The history tells about a titled woman, the Queen Bianca of Navarra,
imprisoned by the perfidious Count Bernardo Cabrera in this castle. Luckily,
the queen succeeded to escape through the lands surrounding the castle.
The castle holds an area of around 2500 square metres and there are around
122 decorated and furnished rooms in it. It is worth to visit all of them
but some of the rooms are closed to the public because they have to be
restored.
Particularly, the
hall of the coats of arms, the room of the mirrors and the hall of the music
are gorgeous.
The vast garden with many Mediterranean and exotic plants hides a small
circular temple, the "Pirdituri" – that is, a stone labyrinth – and
the neoclassic "Coffee House" where the nobles were used to consume
their refreshments.
The producer Luchino Visconti set the movie
"Il Gattopardo"
(The
Leopard) here. |
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SCICLI
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At
20 Km away from Pozzallo,
the town
of
Scicli
has a huge value artistic property, characterized by a mixture of various
stylistic elements including the classicism, the late Baroque, the rococo
and the eclecticism.
The reason why Scicli has been declared UNESCO world heritage is for
its wonderful and charming F. Mormino Penna street through which it
is possible to reach the town hall and the gorgeous patrician residences.
In Scicli,
the famous “ Il Commissario Montalbano” fiction has been set. This
character has been created by the writer Camilleri and during the
realisation of the fiction some buildings in the town have been used for the
set: actually, in the fiction, the town hall is the Police Station of
Licata, the Palazzo Iacono is the Police Headquarters of Montelusa,
the Fornace Of the Pisciotto in Sampieri is the Mannara
and finally the Donnalucata promenade is the beach of Licata.
Other sights of remarkable importance are: the church of Saint John the
Evangelist, jewel of theSicilian baroque art, the church of Saint
Bartholomew, the Palazzo Fava, the church of Carmine, the Palazzo
Beneventano and the church of Our Lady La Nova. |
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ISPICA
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At 10 Km away from Pozzallo, Ispica, town rich in art and history,
called Spaccaforno in ancient times, has an unusual cultural and
natural property characterized by the archaeological area of quarry of
Ispica and the archaeological Forza park.
In
Ispica, there are some important late-Baroque and Liberty artistic
beauties such as: the Palazzo Bruno of Belmonte which is the town
hall nowadays, recognised as the most prestigious Liberty building in the
province of Ragusa, the basilica of Our Major Lady, the sanctuary of
Our Lady of the Carmelo, the church of Saint Bartholomew and the church of
Our Lady of the Annunciation.
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