Buy a House or Apartment in Ragusa, Sicily

Ragusa has two parts: the upper modern town and Ragusa Ibla, the old baroque quarter rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake and part of a UNESCO-listed group of Val di Noto towns. The surrounding countryside has dry-stone walls, carob trees and farms, and the coast at Marina di Ragusa and Sampieri has beaches within about half an hour. Catania airport is the main gateway, with Comiso airport nearer for some low-cost flights. Summers are hot and winters mild.

Some buyers look at very cheap homes in inland Sicilian towns. Inspect structure, roof, damp and legal title, because renovation can cost more than the purchase.

You need an Italian tax code (codice fiscale). Non-EU citizens can buy where their country grants Italians reciprocal rights, so confirm. Steps include an offer, a preliminary contract (compromesso) with deposit, and a notarial deed. Registration tax on a resale second home is typically 9% of the cadastral value, with lower rates for a primary residence, plus notary and agent fees. Use an independent surveyor to check planning compliance. Read our Italy consultation guide, financing guide, and the Italy overview.

Modica, famous for chocolate, is close to the south. Noto and Syracuse lie to the east, Avola and Pachino on the coast, and Caltagirone, known for ceramics, to the north-west.