Ragusa (Italian: [raˈɡuːza] ⓘ; Sicilian: Rausa [raˈuːsa]; Latin: Ragusia) is a city and comune in southern Italy.

Together with seven other cities in the Val di Noto, it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The origins of Ragusa can be traced back to the 2nd millennium BC, when there were several Sicel settlements in the area.

After a short period of Carthaginian rule, it fell into the hands of the ancient Romans and the Byzantines, who fortified the city and built a large castle.

A Chiaramonte family fief, it remained the county capital after it has been unified with Modica in 1296, a status that it lost in the 15th century after a popular revolt.

The bank thrived thanks to the huge wealth and prosperous agriculture that belonged to the now ex-county, and it immediately became an important point of reference for the whole Ibla economy.

In the early 20th century, socialist ideas spread particularly strongly in the Ragusa area compared to rest of the region, according to many fascist historians.

A strong political dialectic caused fascism to impose itself on Ragusa, which provoked a violent response similar to that in the Po Valley.

Police officers from Sicily were replaced with those from Northern Italy since the former were perceived by the regime to be more loyal to their local communities than to Mussolini.

The small detachment of fascist troops in Ragusa fled without fighting while the British and American forces approached.

[3][4][5][6][7][8] On 6 May 1950, with a regular papal bull, Ragusa was raised to the dignity of diocese because of the wise and constant commitment of Msgr.

Carmelo Canzonieri, the parish priest of Saint John the Baptist who later became auxiliary bishop of Messina before and then of Caltagirone.

The scarce presence of infrastructure has limited the great potential of this territory, but it remains the most important export area of Sicily.

The municipality borders with Chiaramonte Gulfi, Comiso, Giarratana, Modica, Monterosso Almo, Rosolini (SR), Santa Croce Camerina, Scicli and Vittoria.

The ornate Baroque interior has a Latin cross plan, with a nave and two aisles separated by three colonnades embellished with gold.