Page 157 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

SOUTHERN SICIL Y  155

R Santa Maria delle Scale vertical lines of the monu mental VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
This church stands at the top of stairway leading to the church,
a flight of 340 steps connect ing accentuate the vertical thrust of Practical Information
Ibla and Ragusa, hence the the building. An impressive Road map E5. * 70,000.
name, scale meaning stairs. Neo-Classical cupola dominates n Municipal Tourism Board
Santa Maria delle Scale was built the nave. Inside are paintings (0932-684 780.
in the 14th century over a from different periods (including Transport
Norman convent and was an 18th-century Immaculate ~ Comiso. V Piazza Stazione
rebuilt after the 1693 Conception by Vito D’Anna) and (892021). @ Via Zama, Interbus-
earthquake. The original Gothic 33 stained-glass windows. Etna Transporti (331-687 76 78).
doorway and external pulpit of
the campanile are still intact. P Circolo di Conversazione
If you go down Corso XXV
Exploring Ibla Aprile, you will see the
The hill of Ibla has probably Neo-Classical Circolo di
been inhabited since the Conversazione (Conversation
3rd millennium BC and is rich Club), on your left. This private
in history. A UNESCO World club has a plush Neo-
Heritage site, its lovely old Classical interior, steeped
streets contain a number of in the atmo sphere of
fine architectural sights. 19th-century Ibla.
R Duomo (San Giorgio) R San Giuseppe
The Cathedral stands at Also along Corso XXV
the top of a stairway that aprile, at Piazza Pola,
begins at Piazza Duomo, is the Baroque San
the real centre of Ibla. It was Giuseppe, which is in
built over the foundations many ways similar to the
of San Nicolò, which was Duomo, San Giorgio, its
destroyed by the 1693 designer having been
earthquake. The new an apprentice to the
church was designed by The statue of San architect Gagliardi. The façade of San Giuseppe, with its
Rosario Gagliardi and Giuseppe at Piazza Pola The oval-shaped Corinthian columns
built in 1738–75. The interior has a large
huge façade is immediately strik- cupola decorated with this church, turn left on Via
ing, with its three tiers of col- Sebastiano Lo Monaco’s fresco Orfanotrofio towards Piazza
umns which, together with the Glory of St Benedict. After leaving Chiaramonte, where you will
find the beautiful church of
VIA M. LEGGIO VIA ROMA VIA G.B. ODIERNA C O R S O M A Z Z I N I CORSO MAZZINI V I A D E L M E R C A T O San San Francesco all’Immacolata,
which was built over Palazzo
Francesco
all’Immacolata
LARGO
RAGUSA IBLA
the Gothic portal of the former
RAGUSA Cathedral VIA ECCE HOMO VIA DI STEFANO Duomo CAMERINA V I A C H I A R A M O N T E Chiaramonte and incorporates
(San Giovanni CORSO MAZZINI Chiesa del (San Giorgio) PZA. DEL VIA ORFANOTROFIO nobleman’s palace.
VIA MATTEOTTI MATTEOTTI CORSO ITALIA CORSO DON MINZOMI D.SOLARINO Conversazione San CORSO XXV APRILE VIA GIARDINO Iblei R Portale di San Giorgio
DUOMO
PIAZZA
Battista) Purgatorio Circolo di ODERNA Giardini
PIAZZA
PIAZZA
VIA M. P A TERNO
The splendid Catalan-Gothic
Giuseppe
VIA G. CARTIA
PIAZZA
CORSO VITTORIO VENETO
Santa Maria
Portale di
delle Scale
church, for the most part
Museo VIA ROMA VIA SANT’ANNA VIA RAPISARDI V I A S A N V I T O VIA XXIV MAGGIO POLA San Giorgio Portale di San Giorgio of this
Archeologico
Ibleo V I A A V V O C A T O G IO V A N N I O T T A V I A N O destroyed by the 1693 earth-
quake, survives – its lunette has
Ponte a bas-relief of St George killing
Nuovo
Ponte dei the dragon and, above, the
Cappuccini Ponte Papa
Giovanni XXIII eagles from the House of
PIAZZA N T O Aragon coat of arms.
DELLA
LIBERTA VIA MARASALA VIA MELI 0 metres 300
PIAZZA DEI } Giardino Ibleo
CAPPUCCINI V I A R I S O R G I M E Ragusa and Ibla 0 yards 300 This delightful 19th-century
public garden has a fine view
VIA BOSCARINO
VIA L. DA VINCI VIA I. G. MIGLORISI 1 Cathedral (San Giovanni Battista) 6 San Giuseppe of the area. It also contains a
number of churches, such as
VIALE T. LENA
Train VIA VITTORIO EMANUELE ORLANDO 2 Museo Archeologico Ibleo 7 San Francesco all’Immacolata San Giacomo and the Chiesa dei
Station PIAZZA 3 Santa Maria delle Scale 8 Portale di San Giorgio Cappuccini, with its interesting
POPOLO 4 Duomo (San Giorgio) 9 Giardino Ibleo 15th-century altarpieces,
5 Circolo di Conversazione including one by Pietro Novelli.
For keys to map symbols see back flap
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