Ancient craftmanship, wine and landscape in Caltagirone and Ragusa Ibla

Caltagirone
The first settlements of the town dates back to very ancient times and its name Caltagirone diclosures the Arab origin.
Qualat Gerun means “the rock with the caves” as the stones of the archeological area of Monte San Mauro show the origin from the Bronze age. Later on Greeks, Byzantine, Arab, Genovese, Normans encourage the commerce thanks to the strategic position in the heart of the mountains south of the plain of Catania, along important trade routes towards the southern coast.
The queen of the mountain, destroyed by the earthquake, rises up and it is enriched by monuments, palaces, churches and vestiges from the past; its natural scenographic rocks, alleys, quarters and steps are finely decorated by majolica tiles, a tradition in use from the Greek times, continued across the Arab times and especially developed by talented Jewish artists which still today reflects in the tecnique, colours and decorations. The ceramic art shop and its ovens show an intense production activity that still today supports the local economy; the ceramic museum and the churches, the floors and even the street signs or house numbers attract visitors in a place that can be described as an open air ceramic museum.
Among the most interesting places the steps of Saint James which leads to Santa Maria del Monte and the area around rich of squares, streets in cobble stones, palaces and churches.
Saint James, Jesuit church, Capuchin church are some of the nicest churches in town, while along via Roma old palaces, monuments and churches show medieval or baroque vestige and take you to the “Villa Comunale”, one of the best gardens in Sicily, really outstanding.

Ragusa and Ragusa Ibla
Ragusa and Ragusa Ibla are two parts of the same town built on two different areas of a hill and administratively reunited only at the beginning of Nineteen hundred.
Their history is linked to the terrible earthquake of 1693, when the local inhabitants did not agree on the site to rencontsruct the new town: the conservative aristocracy and the new middle class of the farmers “massari”.
The name Ragusa Ibla comes from the legendary Hyblon, king of the Sikelian who lived on the low plateau flanked by two rivers, while Heraia comes from the goddess Hera, protector of the coltivated lands.
The place has always been inhabited from the prehistoric times, thanks to the many caves used as natural shelters, abundance of water, opportunity to use waterways to the coast, not too faraway to use water trade routes for commerce and not too close to be afraid of enemies.
Romans, Byzantines and Arabs considered it a crucial place to control. Romans built acqueducts, Byzantines fortified the town and Arabs had to fight hard to take the control, after which they built a castle on top of the hill. Jewish communities were very active here and they settle on the border of the town.
During the Arab time the sloping territory around was set in terraces and subdvided in small rural villages; they also introduced new plants like cotton and irrigation techniques.
The Normans introduce the cult of Saint George; locals are quite devoted to him and most of the people bear his name since he is the patron Saint today.
During the medieval time different dynasties, local barons, lords and rich families alternatively run the power till fifteen hundred when Ragusa joins the County of Modica, which guarantees economic power, political and social stability.
In this specific moment, starts the enfiteusi system. Uncoltivated lands are given in concession for a very long term to farmers. They extend this benefit to their family members for more than one generation and join in groups like a modern cooperative.
As evidence of this new idea the nature of the territory changes; farmer can organize a crop rotation as well as flour over production which means economic prosperity due to the commerce of the cereals in surplus. It will begin a new lifestyle and mentality. A new social class breaks in and will enter in competition with the nobility, not so keen of a change.
The earthquake in 1693 devastates the town and entire noble families are left sometimes with no heir; their heavy houses kill more people than the small houses with one floor only of the lower classes. Now important decision are taken by the farmers “massari” which plan the reconstruction on a new site. The noble re-use spaces, resources and stones from the same place.
These steps have not a pure urbanistic value, but they go beyond to the social value of the decisions which will determine for a long time the events of the town of Ragusa.
Here a new cathedral is built and the new town layout developes in blocks with parallel and perpendicular streets and a few avenue, just like a modern town of today.
Ragusa Ibla will keep its power and authority thanks to the many baroque churches and palaces whose facades and balconies are finely decorated with curvy frieges and strange puffy cheeks and human heads.
Its prestige starts to fade out at the end of 1800 when the practical need to live in modernity comes before the superficial lifestyle of the Aristocracy well expressed by the elegant “Circolo di conversazione” (gentleman’s club) building, the last beautiful monument of a decaying former ruling class.
Ragusa Ibla falls in decadence. It is inhabited by stubborn old people and it is abandoned, forgotten almost as a ghost town until the beginning of the nineties.
In 2005 Ragusa is declared a Unesco world’s heritage site and the town has a massive rebirth.
Its churches, palaces, houses are restored and an uncountable number of B&B replaces the old abandoned houses until the change is made.
Today Ragusa Ibla is one of the most fascinating places in Sicily. Here you can walk back like a time machine, simply wandering around hidden cobble stone alleyways and tiny streets.
You might be ready to be seduced looking up with your nose towards the bizarre and unique architecture of the stone charachters underneath the balconies of Palazzo Cosentini, Palazzo La Rocca, Palazzo Zacco and many other to be discovered.
The square with the Duomo of Saint George has the church not alligned with the square and a moderate steep sloping down; this urbanistic set makes this place really unique and charming.
The pitch stone and the oil later on discovered gave a great impulse to the local economy; more recently Ragusa became an important shooting place for the famous Italian TV series “Inspector Montalbano”.
Travellers come here attracted by the charming policeman but also by this corner of Sicily.
They come encouraged by a moderate and low profile tourism, different than the stereotyped mass tourism of elsewhere…

• Private Sedan car or Mercedes Viano up to seven seats
• Private driver speaking your language
• Fuel, motorway toll and parking fee
• Half day service with private driver and car UP TO 4 HOURS
• Full day service with private car and driver UP TO 8 HOURS
• Water bottle onboard
• Visits, stops and panoramic driving tours described on the itinerary

     NOT INCLUDED:

• Archeological sites, monuments and churches entrance fees
• Local products and wine tasting or culinary experiences unless included
• Driver and local guides gratuities (we suggest 10% if services meets or exceeds your expectations)

• Local Sicilian regional licensed guide
• Meals, wine tasting or culinary experiences if not already included in the itinerary
• Yachts, helicopter or private plane rental linked to our ground transportation service

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