Page 391 - The Rough Guide of Sicily

exposing the bare rock on which the city was built.

If you’re walking back down to Ibla, you could make a stop on the terrace by the
restored fifteenth-century church of Santa Maria della Scala (which features the
remains of an unusual exterior pulpit). A mighty view lies beyond, of the
weatherbeaten roofs of Ragusa Ibla straddling the outcrop of rock, rising to the
prominent dome of San Giorgio. From the church terrace, steps descend beneath the
winding road to another church, the Chiesa del Purgatorio, from where winding

alleys climb back into the heart of Ragusa Ibla.

ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION: RAGUSA

By train The station is just off Piazza del Popolo in Ragusa Superiore, a short walk
from Ponte Nuovo and Via Roma.

Destinations Comiso (5 daily Mon–Sat; 30min); Gela (5 daily Mon–Sat; 1hr 20min);
Ispica (4 daily Mon–Sat; 1hr); Modica (4 daily Mon–Sat; 20min); Noto (4 daily Mon–
Sat; 1hr 30min); Scicli (4 daily; 35min); Siracusa (2 daily Mon–Sat; 2hr); Vittoria (5
daily Mon–Sat; 45min).

By bus Buses stop next the the train station.

Destinations Catania airport/Catania (10 daily Mon–Fri, 6–7 daily Sat & Sun; 1hr
45min–2hr); Chiaramonte Gulfi (Mon–Sat 7 daily; 50min); Gela (3 daily Mon–Sat, 1
daily Sun; 1hr 30min); Ispica (6 daily Mon–Sat, 1 daily Sun; 55min–1hr 40min);
Kamarina (6 daily; 1hr); Marina di Ragusa (hourly; 1hr); Modica (Mon–Sat 1–2
hourly, Sun 3 daily; 30min–1hr 10min); Noto (6 daily Mon–Sat, 4 daily Sun; 1hr
45min–2hr 15min); Palermo (Mon–Sat 4–5 daily, Sun 2 daily; 4hr); Scicli (9 daily

Mon–Sat; 1hr–1hr 50min); Siracusa (6 daily Mon–Sat, 2 daily Sun; 2hr 45min).

By car Drivers can follow the signs to Ragusa Ibla, where there’s a capacious car
park below Piazza della Repubblica.

Tourist information Ragusa Superiore has a small tourist office in front of the Duomo
on Piazza San Giovanni (Mon–Fri 9am–7pm, Sat 8.30am–2pm; 0932 684 780,
comune.ragusa.gov.it), where you can pick up a map and an accommodation booklet.

GETTING AROUND

By bus The most useful city buses are #11 and #33 (both every 30–60min; buy tickets
in advance from any tabacchi), which ply between the upper and lower towns along
Via Roma and Corso Italia, stopping outside both Santa Maria and Purgatorio

churches, and ending their run in Ibla outside the Giardino Ibleo.

On foot If you’re based in the upper town, the best advice is to walk down to the