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Ragusa, Italy

Ragusa and Little Rock officially entered into a Sister City Relationship during the week of Riverfest in 1997.

Ragusa is a city in southern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Ragusa, on the island of Sicily. It has 68.346 inhabitants (2001). Ragusa is built on a hill of limestone between two deep valleys, Cava San Leonardo and Cava Santa Domenica. The city has two distinct areas, the lower and older town of Ragusa/Ibla, and the higher or new Ragusa Superior. The two halves are separated by the Valle dei Ponti, (a deep ravine with four bridges). One of them the 18th century Ponte dei Cappuccinni is very beautiful. In 1693 the city was devastated by a catastrophic earthquake, following this devastation the city was rebuilt, many magnificent baroque buildings date from this period.

Ragusa Ibla has an array of baroque architecture, including several stunning palaces and churches. The Cathedral of San Giorgio began construction in 1738 by architect Rosario Gagliardi and framed in the front by a flight of 250 steps and ornate columns with a large neoclassical dome.

On a narrow winding street that connects Ragusa/Ibla with Ragusa Superior is the church of Santa Maria delle Scale (Saint Mary of the Steps). This church is particularly interesting: badly damaged in the earthquake of 1693, half of this church was rebuilt in Baroque style, while the surviving half was kept in the original Gothic. Another fine building is the Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista in the new city Ragusa Superior. Built between 1718 and 1778, is principally pure baroque, containing fine carvings and sculptures.

Ragusa is a small and quiet town, and one of the towns with the highest quality of life in Southern Italy. The economy of the surrounding province hinges mainly on agriculture (horticulture, olives), farming, tourism, light manufacturing and small oilfields.

Key contacts in Ragusa dream of opening an authentic Sicilian restaurant in Little Rock as a result of our sister city relationship with Ragusa.

For participation with programming with Ragusa please contact the Commission’s Liaison to Ragusa Commissioner Steve Michell at steve@dexteracorp.com or call (501) 975-1700.