Marina di Ragusa
Marina di Ragusa is one of the most renowned and popular seaside town on the south-eastern coast of Sicily. With a distance of only 20 km from the provincial capital, it is considered the perfect place thanks to the mild climate in winter, warm temperature in summer season, the typical local cuisine, the cultural tours of Unesco sites and Montalbano’s places.
Since 2009, it has been awarded with the Blue Flag for its excellent quality of life and numerous services. In addition its free coastline characterized by golden sand (due to the presence of quartz) and the warm, clear waters of Mediterranean Sea.
History
In the past Marina di Ragusa was known as “Mazzarelli”, an Arabic origine name maintained until 1928, with the meaning of ‘small village‘. In fact, it was founded as a fishing village, used to ship products from Ragusa hinterland to export such as: locust beans, cereals, caciocavallo cheese, etc.
In the 16th century, a watchtower and defence tower against pirate raids was erected by the Cabrera family, Viceroys of Spain who owned the County of Modica.
In 1870, it experienced a real development with asphalt from the Ragusa mines, which was transported by carters and then exported to asphalt roads all over the world. In 1928, at the behest of fascist hierarch Filippo Pennavaria, the name was changed to the current Marina di Ragusa. After the war period, Marina experienced a real residential boom, a phase that continues to this day and has led the village to become the nerve centre.
Beaches
The low, sandy shoreline of the Hyblean coastline is considered one of the most beautiful and beloved in the whole of Sicily. It is characterized by fine, golden sands and enjoys a sea that has received several times the international Blue Flag, attesting to its beauty and sustainability. Marina di Ragusa stretches in a long riviera equipped with the best tourist facilities, lively and animated beaches, suitable for families and children thanks to its shallow waters. The Hyblean coastline offers various leisure and sports activities.
The Beaches of Marina di Ragusa
- LaOla Beach – lido
- Mancina
- Marsa a’ Rillah Yacht Club – lido
- Varcuzze
- Lido Azzurro 1953 da Serafino – lido
- Margarita beach – lido
- Boga – lido
- Spiaggia degli Americani
What to see
From a small fishing village to an internationally renowned tourist destination, Marina di Ragusa offers an ancient historic centre, now used as a shopping and tourist area. If you take a tour of the town, you can discover the most characteristic sights: including the 16th-century Cabrera Tower, Piazza Dogana, the ‘Blue Flag’ award-winning beaches, and the church of the Madonna di Portosalvo dating back to the 1930s.
A very popular route is from the Lungomare Mediterraneo, full of restaurants and shops, to the Tourist Port. The latter stands on the site of the old ‘Scalo Trapanese’ and is not only one of the best known ports in southern Italy, but also one of the city’s main attractions.
In the surroundings
Marina di Ragusa is the ideal starting point to reach the baroque centres of Ragusa and Ragusa Ibla, Scicli, Modica, Ispica, or the castle of Donnafugata. It is also a short distance from the main tourist destinations of the Val di Noto. Moving away from the province, but easily reachable within a day, are the other famous places in Sicily: the temples of Agrigento, Taormina, Siracusa, Catania, Caltagirone and Piazza Armerina.
We also recommend visiting the various wildlife oases, such as the Irminio river reserve, the Randello reserve, the Pantalica necropolis, the Vendicari nature reserve and the Etna park. Very interesting is Kamarina archaeological museum, an important testimony of Greek-Roman art where amphorae, vases, statues and bronze objects recovered from the wrecks of commercial ships are preserved.
