Ispica is a city with Paleolithic origins, located in the district of Ragusa (Sicily) in the middle of the "island in the Island" which is the Valley of Noto.
It raises on a panoramic hill, 5 kilometres distant from the sea.
The long life of this town has been characterised by the colonization and settlement of Sicels, Greeks, Romans, Arabians, Normans and Spaniards. Ispica, with its history and its natural geographical isolation from the rest of Sicily, still conveys an atmosphere of caught up antiquity.
After the devastating earthquake of 1693 the citizens needed to move from the canyon (ancient settlement of the city, once built into the natural rocks of the plateau) to the current location, ontop of the hill.
Santa Maria del Focallo (the seaside district of Ispica), is 5 kilometres distant from the town and its stunning beach is easily reachable by car or bus. This uncontaminated coast has been awarded three times with the Blue Flag of Legambiente.
Ciriga and Porto Ulisse, two other seaside areas of the district, unlike Santa Maria del Focallo present rocks and cliffs, instead of thin sand.
