Marina di Ragusa

 

The opportunity of combining seaside holidays with characteristic places to visit makes eastern Sicily a very requested destination for tourists. Sicily, a popular land since ancient times, has always had a succession of dominations, which, however, were not the same throughout the island.

Eastern Sicily maintains more characters related to classical Greek culture, unlike North Western Sicily which has had a greater Arab-Norman influence.

The strategic position of Marina di Ragusa, located in the center of the southeastern coast of Sicily, makes the town the ideal place to stop and move around to visit the nearby interest sites.

The beautiful city of Ragusa and Ragusa Ibla, which is just 25 km away and declared as Unesco World Heritage, is an ancient Baroque style village, which is located on a hill. It has a special atmosphere to walk through massed houses and narrow alleyways. There are eighteen between churches and monuments declared as Unesco World Heritage, rich in decorations and curvy lines typical of the Baroque in Sicily.

Scicli is 15 km from Marina di Ragusa and 25 km from Modica. Its historical centers in the Baroque style declared part of "Unesco World Heritage" are really something to admire. Baroque architecture in eastern Sicily is characterized by narrow limestone streets, picturesque views, elegant buildings, and imposing and majestic churches with unique facades.

At about 8 km west you can visit the small village of Punta Secca, made famous from the TV series “Il Commisario Montalbano”, also known for its beautiful sunsets. From Marina di Ragusa it can be reached also by foot.

Just few kilometers away from Punta Secca, through a lovely country road full of ancient 19^th century villas you reach Donnafugata Castle, the ancient summer residence of the aristocratic Arezzo family of Ragusa Ibla. Today the castle is a museum which allows you to visit the rooms with antique furniture, the magnific botanic gardens and a significant collection of ancient family clothing.

Kamarina (or Camarina), 18 km away, today is a regional museum with ancient remains of what was once an impressive and thriving Greek city in the sixth century B.C. The small museum preserves the largest collection of amphorae found in the Mediterranean, as well as different types of vase decorations typical of the Hellenic period.

What to see in 1 hour driving

• Noto 60 Km – Baroque city, Unesco World Heritage
• Marzamemi 66 km – antique fishing village, famous for the beautiful beaches and the good fish
• Caltagirone 80 km – inland town famous for its ceramics and handicrafts.
• Siracusa 95 km - Baroque city, Unesco World Heritage – also famous for its Greek theatre
• Piazza Armerina 96 km – must see the ancient roman villa del Casale, very famous for its Roman mosaics.

Every Tuesday the local market of Marina di Ragusa take place in Padre Pio Square, a central area of the town. Starting usually around 08:00 am until 01:00 pm. There are many different sellers of typical Sicilian products, such as fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, cheeses, clothing and household items. During summertime, from mid June to mid September the local market is held also on Fridays.
 
Here is list of local markets in the municipality of Ragusa:

Marina di Ragusa is known for its beautiful beaches, but it is also a young people's destination due to its vibrant nights. The nightlife is all around the center, near Piazza DUca Degli Abruzzi and on the Lungomare Andrea Mediterraneo where local pubs make it perfect with aperitifs and live music. In recent years, however, there has been a change in the youth nightlife, thanks to the opening of pubs, bars and restaurants in the new touristic harbour of Marina di Ragusa. The new meeting point was an excellent compromise for the residents of the towns center.

Summer weekends, and not only, are bustling thanks to the Koala disco. It is only 2 km away from Marina di Ragusa, is open every weekend both in summer and in winter, and is a reference point for thousands of young people. Thanks also to the variety of the music and the outdoor dance floors, the Koala disco is one of the best-known disco-clubs in Eastern Sicily.

Many events are organized by the Municipality of Ragusa during July and especially August. A calendar of events taking place within the Municipality of Ragusa is published every year with a list. Marina di Ragusa, Ragusa Ibla and Donnafugata Castle give life to dozens of different events: live music concerts, theatre performances, exhibitions and shows.

There are different possibilities to practice outdoor activities in Marina di Ragusa. There are various sport facilities in three different area of the town, Jesuiti Village, along the cycle path and at the promenade Andrea Doria, just in front of Andrea Doria Residence. Additionally, there are two gyms in town.
 

Both in Jesuiti Village and in Caucana, just in front of the archaeological site there a five-a-side soccer fields and tennis courts. The two cycle paths connected each other by the pedestrian zone have a total length of about 4.5 km. It is possible to run, cycle, walk or skate there.
 

Those who love water sports can easily rent tender boats or jet skis! When the sea is rough or it is windy many young people gather waiting for the right moment to either surf, kitesurf or sail.
 

For sportfishing passionate it is possible to go fishing by boat with real professionals.

One thing’s for sure, you will never get bored in Marina di Ragusa.

 

Silvia, a great passionate and a PSS certified diving instructor can guide you to discover fantastic seabeds, abandoned wrecks or dives in the blue. Even if it’s the first time, no worries. In complete safety you can experience the thrill of the underwater world and, who knows….afterwards, you probably would never never want to stop ..

 

Mobile Phone: +39 3294966108

E-Mail: slowsilvy@gmail.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slowdivingrg/

 

Out of all the excursions that can be done, those proposed by the Kalura association of Ragusa are really interesting, managed by expert hiking guides who organize trekking and walking routes in the Ragusa area as well as throughout Sicily.
 

Try an authentic experiences such as traveling through a territory discovering it from a point of view that tourists can rarely see. Various itineraries are waiting for you, from simple ones, suitable also for children, to more complex trekking ones, all aimed at a naturalistic experience that can enrich you both from a cultural and emotional point of view.
 

Each excursion includes a lunch or a typical tasting of the visited area, for more information visit: www.kalura.org
 

The Travel Agency “La Terra” is a reference point for excursions and operates throughout the territory in the Province of Ragusa, there are offices in Marina di Ragusa, Modica and Ragusa. The main strength of the agency is the fleet of buses used to guarantee the dozens of excursions, events and services throughtout Sicily. Possibility to book through their website, even if you have only one day available.
 

Among the many excursions they organize there are: Modica, Scicli, Ragusa Ibla and Donnafugata, Syracuse and Ortigia, Noto, Marzamemi by night, Etnaland water park, Catania by Night, Scala dei Turchi and Agrigento, lakes of Avola and Marzamemi, Taormina by night, Noto by night, Gole Alcantara and Taormina, Buccheri med fest, Malta by night and Malta in one day.
 

They offer transfers and private excursions both for individuals or for groups.

For information regarding events, concerts and other offers please visit their website: www.laterra.it

 

When it comes to Sicily, one cannot fail to mention its excellent food. Since the ancient Greeks, Sicilian cuisine was special from many points of view. The cuisine in Sicily is a set of ancient traditions, of foods and flavours that have been enriched and evolved over the centuries, due to the continuous historical events of the island.
 

The myriad of dishes on the island ensures that there is no typical cuisine. Many dishes vary from province to province and even from commune to commune, and that is the reason why certain dishes are not present in parts of Sicily.
 

Restaurants menus in Marina di Ragusa are mostly based on fish with many different dishes to taste. Many places are suitable for young people that hang out after dinner until late at night.