Ragusa, Baroque commune in Sicily, Italy
Ragusa is a commune in southeastern Sicily that spreads across two hills linked by four bridges. The stone structures form a dense network of narrow lanes that follow the contours of the land and connect through stairways.
The earthquake of 1693 destroyed the medieval settlement and resulted in a reconstruction carried out in two phases and two separate areas. The upper section was laid out with a new street grid, while the lower part preserved the old layout and rebuilt it in baroque style.
The name Ibla dates back to the Arab period in Sicily and refers to the older section of the town, filled with churches and palaces. Visitors find restaurants occupying the ground floors of baroque buildings that shape the streetscape and remain in daily use.
The two districts sit at different elevations and require comfortable footwear for walking on cobblestones and stairways. Connections between the levels run through bridges and footpaths that involve regular climbing and descending.
The bridges connecting the two sections run at varying heights and offer changing perspectives on the rooftops and facades below. Some houses combine several architectural periods within a single structure, with Gothic arches appearing beside baroque doorways.
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