The territory of Ragusa
TYPICAL SICILIAN CONSTRUCTION
The territory of the Province of Ragusa, which formally constituted the historical County of Modica, is unique in many ways, and distinguished from the rest of Sicily by its particular characteristics. Since 2002 the Province is to be placed under the protection of UNESCO, as a World Heritage Site, which includes the Baroque towns of the “Val di Noto”, which are distinguished centers of Modica, Ragusa and Scicli.
The follows from the Province of Ragusa being coined the new "South East" of Italy, in an analogy with the more prestigious model of economic development in the industrial Northeast. On many occasions over the years, a series of specifications, (including the rate of economic growth, capital income, socio-economic development, and employment) have placed the province of Ragusa in first place throughout the entire island of Sicily with an excellent national average.
One of the exceptional characteristics of Ragusa, deserving of more attention, is the discipline of architecture and the study of artefacts, which, particularly in the country houses of Sicily, most perfectly demonstrates the phenomenon of the Masserie. These factors represent, together with the dry stone walls, the most remarkable and clear division of the territory, along with more obvious and excellent characteristics.
Two important factors give a precise indication of this houses, which indicates a land structure of divided and intensive use, and at the same time, is a testimonial to the territorial structure, which provides good conditions for development, such as solid land upon which it is easy to build, optimum exposure, and a plentiful supply of water. Also, the fact that the houses were inhabited by the owners and their workers, belies yet more qualities of the development of this largely independent area of Sicily.
If the rural farms of Sicily were to be grouped into two main categories present today, these would be the Enclosed Courtyard farms and Open Courtyard farms:
- Courtyard farms in Sicily are composed of a courtyard, but rarely opposite housing, and have the most specific and numerous areas of expansion and dominate in the area of Ragusa.
- Grand Courtyard farms consist of farms in multiple courts in a single aggregate or additional factories in separate buildings.
The Courtyard farms are therefore one of the most typical house rentals in Ragusa, and are a symbol of particular use based on crops or livestock. They are not very big but can cover a large quadrangle of up to 20 to 25m per side, and more permanently settled than in other districts of the region of Iblea. The farm buildings of Ragusa tend to arrange themselves around the courtyard, on two or three sides, or in front, where one or both of the sides are enclosed by walls, and are sometimes considerably taller.
The measure and the quality of these Sicilian country houses changes over time, as the construction was more sophisticated during the nineteenth century when the land was radically transformed, due to the migration of villa inhabitants to the city centres. We are moving towards the abandoning a sense of fearful respect for the old farm house or fortress.
THE SICILIAN VILLA TODAY
For several years now we have seen the recovery of some of these historic farms used for agriturismo, rural tourism, bed and breakfasts, hotels and holiday homes.
Thus we reach the important goal monuments,’ changing only part of their functions and uses.
The farm and rural tourism maintain the intended of producing local products to be consumed on site.