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DONNALUCATA:
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 Donnalucata is situated on the coast, 8 km from Scicli. It is a very old village, whose name could derive from the Arabic “Ainlu Kat”, that is spring of the hours. According to an Arabian observer, it could make reference to a fountain which irregularly emitted the water during the hours dedicated to the mussulman prayers. Some historians claim that it can refers to a miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary happened in 1901, when arabs, guided by the emir Belcane, landed along the coasts in order to reconquer Sicily, now dominated by Normans. In that occasion the people of the city asked to Our Lady for help, who appeared covered by a glimmering light, “Donna lucata” and from this, the name of the city. It has also an historic importance because thank to the ease of its landing-places, it was the natural port of Scicli, in Arabic “Marsa Sikla”. ... CONTINUA
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| THE MOUNTH OF THE RIVER IRMINIO: |
 Along the litoral betwenn Marina di Ragusa and Donnalucata, there is a marvellous example of natural vegetations which represents the last image of how Sicilian costs were in the past.
The river doesn’t lack of mythical traditions, among that, it is told it is inhabited by the god Mercurio. This myth finds its roots in Plinio (the old), who in the third book of “Naturalis Historia”, derives the name Irminio from Ermete, which in latin is Hermes and means Mercurio. In addition, the historic references which cite the mouth of the river are numerous and the Irminio was seen as call, refuge o canal-port, almost used during Greek’s and Roman’s time… CONTINUE
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SAMPIERI:
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 Sampieri is probably the most typical cost village, due to its little stone-houses, narrow alleys close to the sea and its special aspect of a fishermen’s place, now it is almost in extinction along the coast. Although its picturesque and old image, the city is well organized for the different tastes and needs of tourists: from restaurants, hotels, chalet and night-club to the beach, probably the main attraction, it is the most beautiful of the all littoral of Ragusa. "U stabilimientu 'bbruciatu"(the burnt factory), situated near the sea on the cliff between Sampieri and Marina di Modica , is an old brick’s factory- accidentally caught fire- which represents until nowadays an interesting destination for its decadent aspect and more than once used as setting for films. ... CONTINUA
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SCICLI:
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 Scicli is an elegant small town situated in a wide hollow among rocky hills, where three valleys meet: that of S. Bartolomeo, of S. Maria La Nova and the la Fiumara of Modica.
The eighteenth century aspect of the city is the result of a terrible earthquake of 1693, which hit a considerable part of Sicily. The baroque princes studied the rebuilding of city’s spaces and thanks to particular illusory effects – obtained through the accurate disposition of the buildings, churches and of the urban plant, they created that small baroque jewel that is Scicli today… CONTINUE
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MODICA:
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 Modica (20 km from Ragusa; 50.000 inhabitants; cap 97010-97015; prefix. 0932) is the most suggestive city of the province and Sicily. It is placed in the southern area of the (mountains) Iblei and divided into two areas: high Modica, whose buildings are almost climbing the mountains’ rocks; and low Modica, down to the valley, where in the past two rivers flowed, the Ianni Mauro and the Pozzo dei Pruni (Well of the prunes), then they were covered because of the numerous floods and where nowadays is situated Corso Umberto (a street), the main street and historical spot of the city. Its aspect is totally late-baroque, dated after the earthquake which stroke the oriental Sicily in 1693. After that, Modica has extended in other areas such as: Modica Sorda, Monserrato, Idria, and so on… Unfortunately, the documents and the remains of the old city are very few: the gothic portal of the Church of Carmine; ruins of the Church of Our Lady of Jesus dated back to the 16th century, the Sacramento Chapel of the 15th century, the rocky church of S. Niccolò of the 12th and only recently discovered. ... CONTINUA
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RAGUSA:
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 The city’s tour could start with the visit to the Church of S. George, an important example of baroque style in Sicily. Finished in 1775 and based on the project of Rosario Gagliardi, it shows an elaborate façade divided in three parts by columns and decorative motifs proper of the age. The narrow and long central part ends with a singular dome of 17th century, high more than 40 mt and supported by 16 twin columns. Although the architectural elements belongs to different age- the staircase and the dome were added after, the result is an harmonious whole. Inside, in the central aisle, there are 13 storied glass windows, which represent the martyrdom suffered by S. George realized by Vito D’Anna and in the sacristy, a beautiful marmoreal altar-piece, important sculptures of the gaginesca’s school and a rich “Treasure of the Saint”.... CONTINUE |
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