Province of Ragusa: Baroque Towns, Beaches, Access

The province of Ragusa lies in the south of Sicily; its capital is Ragusa. It is a Libero Consorzio Comunale with 12 municipalities on 1,624 square kilometers and about 324,000 inhabitants (ISTAT-based figures, April 2026). It is known for the Baroque towns of Ragusa, Modica and Scicli, inscribed in 2002 as part of the UNESCO Val di Noto, and for sandy beaches along the south coast.

The city itself has its own page: things to do in Ragusa.

What is there to see in the province of Ragusa?

The Baroque towns sit in hill country, the beaches on the coast. Guides are available for these places:

Ragusa, Modica and Scicli are three of the eight late Baroque towns of the Val di Noto, rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693. The cathedral of San Giorgio in Ragusa Ibla was built between 1744 and 1775 and stands at the top of a high flight of steps. The cathedral of San Giorgio in Modica is reached by a staircase of 181 steps, and its façade is 62 meters high. In Scicli the Palazzo Beneventano shows fantastical stone creatures on its corbels and cornices. For food, see Sicilian cuisine and the restaurant Osteria Tre Colli in Scicli.

What is Modica known for?

Modica is known for its chocolate. In October 2018 the Cioccolato di Modica became the first chocolate in the EU to receive a protected geographical indication (PGI). It is made without added cocoa butter or other vegetable fats and without conching, and its production area is the municipality of Modica. More on the Modica page.

Which towns in the province of Ragusa are by the sea?

The province's south coast has sandy beaches. The guides cover Marina di Ragusa, Donnalucata and Pozzallo. Marina di Ragusa has a marina, and Pozzallo is the province's port. The beach at the Riserva del Fiume Irminio lies in a protected area with sand dunes. At Punta Secca, near Santa Croce Camerina, stands the 34-meter Capo Scaramia lighthouse, built in 1859; the village served as a filming location for the television series "Il Commissario Montalbano". More beaches on the island are in the Beach category.

What landscapes lie inland?

The interior is hill country with the three UNESCO towns of Ragusa, Modica and Scicli. For trips into the landscape, the categories panoramic points, nature reserves and UNESCO World Heritage fit.

In Ragusa Ibla lies the Giardino Ibleo, a public park with botanical plantings.

Between Modica and Ispica runs the Cava d'Ispica, a gorge about 13 kilometers long in the Hyblaean plateau. It belongs to the Kamarina and Cava d'Ispica Archaeological Park.

The province has twelve municipalities: Acate, Chiaramonte Gulfi, Comiso, Giarratana, Ispica, Modica, Monterosso Almo, Pozzallo, Ragusa, Santa Croce Camerina, Scicli and Vittoria.

How do you get to the province of Ragusa?

Comiso airport, Comiso (CIY), lies in the province; its connections change, and the airport publishes current schedules. The larger Catania-Fontanarossa (CTA) lies in the province of Catania, north of the province of Syracuse. From the port of Pozzallo a catamaran runs to Malta in about 90 minutes (Virtu Ferries, as of 2026). For motorways and roads, see Highway and Rental car.

When is the best time to visit the province of Ragusa?

Spring and autumn suit sightseeing in the Baroque towns; the summer months suit the beach. How warm the air and sea are in each month is shown on the travel planning page.

Vacation rentals across Sicily are listed on sicily.vacations.