Ragusa day trip from Modica or Siracusa
A day trip to Ragusa from Modica or Siracusa: the Giardino Ibleo, the Portale di San Giorgio, San Giuseppe, Palazzo Arezzo di Trifiletti, the Circolo di Conversazione and the Duomo of San Giorgio in Ragusa Ibla, then Santa Maria dell'Itria and Santa Maria delle Scale on the steps up to the upper town. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Ragusa in 1 day
Day 1
Giardino Ibleo
19th-century public garden at the eastern tip of Ibla, with palm-lined avenues, small churches and views over the Irminio valley.
Portale di San Giorgio
Gothic-Catalan doorway, all that survived of the old church of San Giorgio after the earthquake of 1693.
San Giuseppe
Baroque church on Piazza Pola with a tall facade of statues and an oval interior under a painted dome.
Palazzo Arezzo di Trifiletti
Noble palace beside Piazza Duomo, still owned by the family, with furnished rooms shown on guided visits.
Circolo di Conversazione
Ragusa's 19th-century gentlemen's club on Piazza Duomo, with a richly painted ballroom open to visitors.
Duomo of San Giorgio
Rosario Gagliardi's 18th-century church at the top of a stairway, with a three-tier facade and a neoclassical dome.
Santa Maria dell'Itria
Baroque church whose bell tower is topped by a dome covered in blue and yellow majolica tiles.
Santa Maria delle Scale
Church on the long stairway between the upper town and Ibla, with a terrace giving the classic view over Ibla.
Ragusa Cathedral
The Baroque cathedral of San Giovanni Battista in Ragusa Superiore, with a tall tiered facade rising at the top of a broad staircase.
Watch: Ragusa
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
From Modica, Ragusa is about 25 minutes by car, regional train or bus. From Siracusa it is about an hour and a half by car or bus, with trains slower. Buses and trains arrive in the upper town, so walk down the steps past Santa Maria delle Scale to Ibla or take a local bus.
Staying in Modica or Siracusa? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Ragusa
Spring and autumn are the best seasons, warm enough for the steps between the two towns without the summer heat. July and August are hot and busy, and winter is mild and quiet with some rain. The feast of San Giorgio, with processions in Ibla, usually takes place in late May.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Ragusa on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Ragusa on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Ragusa on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Ragusa
- Ragusa is two towns: Ibla, the Baroque old town, lies in the valley below Ragusa Superiore, and the steps between them are long and steep.
- Doing the day downhill saves effort: start in Ibla and climb back up past Santa Maria delle Scale at the end, or take a local bus or taxi.
- Many churches close for a long lunch break; see the Duomo and the smaller churches in the morning or late afternoon.
- Driving into Ibla's narrow lanes is restricted; park at the edge of the old town and walk in.
- Wear comfortable shoes and bring water and sun protection for the steps; the Giardino Ibleo has shade and benches for a break.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Circolo di Conversazione: L'Ibleo at the Italian Wikipedia project., Public domain
- Duomo of San Giorgio: Ludvig14, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Giardino Ibleo: Gdiquattro, Public domain
- Palazzo Arezzo di Trifiletti: Codas, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Portale di San Giorgio: Ludvig14, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ragusa Cathedral: L'Ibleo at the Italian Wikipedia project., Public domain
- San Giuseppe: unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Santa Maria dell'Itria: poudou99, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Santa Maria delle Scale: Enrico Bracchitta, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
