Province of Ragusa

Province of Ragusa
Province
Map highlighting the location of the province of Ragusa in Italy
Country	Italy
Region	Sicily
Capital(s)	Ragusa
Comuni	12
Government
• President	Giovanni Francesco Antoci
Area
• Total	1,614 km^2 (623 sq mi)
Population (2001)
• Total	308,103
• Density	190/km^2 (490/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	97100, 97010-97015, 97017-97019
Telephone prefix	0932
Vehicle registration	RG
ISTAT	088

The Province of Ragusa (Italian: Provincia di Ragusa; Sicilian: Pruvincia 'i Rausa) is a province in the autonomous region of Sicily in Italy, located in the south-east of the island. Its capital is the city of Ragusa, which is the most southerly provincial capital in Italy.

Geography

From Scoglitti to Pozzallo, the Ragusan coastline is approximately 85 kilometres (53 mi) long. Along the Ragusan coast are many fishing villages such as Kaukana, Punta Secca, Marina di Ragusa and Marina di Modica. The Hyblaean Mountains are dominating the north of the province and its highest peaks are Monte Lauro, Monte Casale and Monte Arcibessi. The rivers of the province are the Irminio, Dirillo and Ippari and the only lake in the province is the Lago di Santa Rosalia along the course of the Irminio river. The skyline of Ragusa is punctuated by the towers, domes and cupolas of the many exquisite churches for which the province is known. The area is mostly unspoilt, as during the 19th century and early 20th century there was large migration from Ragusa to the more prosperous areas of Italy and abroad.

It has an area of 1,614 square kilometres (623 sq mi) and a total population of 295,264 (2001). There are 12 comunes (Italian: comuni) in the province , see Comunes of the Province of Ragusa. By population, they are:

Commune	Population
Ragusa	72,483
Vittoria	60,918
Modica	53,448
Comiso	29,489
Scicli	25,855
Pozzallo	18,393
Ispica	14,823
Santa Croce Camerina	9,397
Acate	8,340
Chiaramonte Gulfi	8,085
Monterosso Almo	3,357
Giarratana	3,255

Economy

Some of Ragusa province has changed dramatically over the last twenty years, largely due to tourism. However, many places in Ragusa remain untouched by the last two centuries, and the atmosphere of the 18th century still pervades them. Industries can be found in the towns of Ragusa and Pozzallo where are the two major industrial areas are located. The west and south of the province are mainly dedicated to the intensive farming in greenhouses and the local vegetables leave from the Market of Vittoria to be exported to all of Europe making the province of Ragusa one of the biggest producers of greenhouse produce. In the areas around Ragusa and Modica cattle farming is at the highest levels in the region for milk, dairy and meat production. Tourism seems to have now replaced the fishing industry as the principal source of employment along the coast.

Transports

• There are no motorways in the province and the main roads are the National SS.115 that crosses from west (Gela) to east (Syracuse) and the SS.514 that running north connects Ragusa to Catania. The SP.25 (Provincial Road) runs south from Ragusa to Marina di Ragusa.
• The 120 kilometres (75 mi) of railway network of the province are entirely on single track and not electrified. Regional trains run regularly connecting the major cities.
• Comiso Airport during the cold-war was the biggest NATO base in Europe and has recently been refurbished to be converted from military to civil airport.
• The Port of Pozzallo is the only cargo and passengers port (service to Malta), and is located in the southern part of the province.
• The other ports are either fishing ports like Scoglitti and Donnalucata or Marinas for touristic boats like Marina di Ragusa and Punta Secca.

Cathedral of San Giovanni, Ragusa.

Duomo of San Giorgio, Ragusa Ibla.

Duomo of San Giorgio, Modica.

Sights

Baroque

The cities of Ragusa, Modica and Scicli contain many examples of baroque architecture and from 2002 are part of the World Heritage. The main monuments are:

• Cathedral of San Giovanni (Ragusa)
• Portal of San Giorgio (Ragusa Ibla)
• Duomo of San Giorgio (Ragusa Ibla)
• Duomo of San Giorgio (Modica)
• Duomo of San Pietro (Modica)
• Church of San Bartolomeo (Scicli)
• Palazzo Beneventano (Scicli)

Archeology

• The main archeological site of the province is the Greek city of Kamarina located on the coast.
• Others are Kasmenai, Akrillai, Scornavacche, Kaukana (Roman), the Roman Baths of Comiso and the Cava Ispica.

Castles

• Castle of Donnafugata, near Ragusa, is a beautiful example of country residence of the Baron Corrado Arezzo that dominates the surrounding countryside.
• Castle of the Counts of Modica in Modica town centre.
• Castle of Naselli d’Aragona in Comiso dating to 1576.
• Ruins of the fortress of Parco Forza in Ispica.
• Acate is housing 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 Paternò, its golden coloured stone work has been modified many times during its long history, it now appears more as an 18th-century palazzo than a castle, although some crenelations and towers remain.

External links

• (Italian) Official website
• The province of Ragusa
• Images of Ragusa
• Pictures, history, tourism, gastronomy, books, local products, local surnames, transportation in the province of Ragusa
• Ragusa on line

Coordinates: 36°55′30″N 14°43′50″E / 36.92500°N 14.73056°E