Ragusa Ibla is the older, lower half of the city — a tangled Baroque neighbourhood rebuilt almost entirely after the 1693 earthquake that devastated much of eastern Sicily. The earthquake flattened the medieval town; what rose in its place was something more deliberate and more beautiful, with broad stairways, palaces with carved limestone facades, and churches that compete with each other in theatrical grandeur.
The streets of Ibla follow the old medieval lines beneath the Baroque overlay, so the plan is irregular and the gradients are steep. This makes it excellent for wandering. Every turn opens onto a small piazza, a carved portal, or a view across the valley. The UNESCO World Heritage designation covers the entire Val di Noto, of which Ibla is the finest example. Spend at least half a day here; a full day is better.