Ragusa: The Baroque Phoenix of Sicily

⏳ A Tale of Two Cities Across Millennia 1300 BC: Founded by Greeks as "Hybla Heraea", a thriving trade hub 1693 Earthquake: Reduced to rubble, claiming 5,000 lives Rebirth: Upper Town (Superiore) - Aristocrats' planned "ideal city" with grid streets Lower Town (Ibla) - Commoners' Baroque maze rebuilt on ruins (UNESCO core zone) 📸 Must-See Contrasts Upper Town Lower Town 18th-century City Hall Cathedral of San Giorgio (Sicily's finest Baroque facade) Wide linear boulevards 300-step "Staircase of Angels" linking winding alleys Modern Sicilian life Medieval charm seen in Inspector Montalbano 🍊 Authentic Experiences 1️⃣ Savor History Through Sweets Try mpanatigghi (chocolate-meat rolls, Arab legacy) at Antica Dolceria Pair with bitter almond iced coffee at Caffè Italia 2️⃣ Iconic Photo Spots Giardino Ibleo: Sunset shots of golden domes over the gorge Ponte Vecchio: Postcard panorama of Ibla 🚗 Road Trip Tips Parking: Piazza Libertà lot (10-min downhill walk to Ibla) Scenic Detour: Take SP14 toward Modica for cliffside vistas #Ragusa #SicilianBaroque #DualCity