Marina di Ragusa

Marina di Ragusa
Nickname(s): Mazzarelli
Location of the province of Ragusa within Italy.
Coordinates: 36°50′N 14°37′E / 36.833°N 14.617°E / 36.833; 14.617Coordinates: 36°50′N 14°37′E / 36.833°N 14.617°E / 36.833; 14.617
Country	Italy
Region	Sicily
Province	Province of Ragusa
Founded	V cent. BC
Elevation	8 m (24 ft)
Population
- Total	4,070
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
Postal codes	97100
Area code(s)	0932
Patron saints	Santa Maria di Porto Salvo
Website	http://www.comune.ragusa.it/en/03itinerari.html

Marina di Ragusa is a village in southern Italy, a frazione of the comune of Ragusa. The site is noted for its beautiful beaches and lively nightlife. Marina di Ragusa is located on the Mediterranean coast of the island of Sicily, directly opposite the island of Malta. The village has an official population of 4,070 but during the summer it gets to over 60,000 inhabitants.

History

The Torre Cabrera in Marina di Ragusa.

Remains of a Greek settlement of the 5th century BC, when this area was under the control of Kamarina, have been found on the banks of the nearby river Irminio that was used as canal-port. The village was known since the Byzantine era (5th century AD) when a loading pier was built to export the local products. The Arab geographer El Idrisi writes that during the Arab domination (827-1091) it was called Marsa A'Rillah (small port) and during the years 1590 and 1610 a watchtower was built by order of the Count B. Cabrera next to the port of the village due to Saracen-ships sailing this stretch of sea. It remained a sleepy fishing village until the 1870s when its port was extensively used for the export of the local asphalt, mined in Ragusa, to numerous European capitals. It was called Mazzarelli until 1928 when the local council changed the name in Marina di Ragusa. During the 1960s it became a tourist resort, a role which it still maintains today.

Economy

The local economy is based on tourism. Many bars, restaurants and hotels are busy during the summer season whilst during the winter the village gets busy only at weekends. Nightclubs and camping can also be found. The local fishing industry has nearly disappeared and has been replaced by intensive agriculture in greenhouses that can be found along this stretch of coast. From the nearby Market of Vittoria green-products get exported to all Europe.

Transport

The only public transport in Marina di Ragusa are two bus-lines (A and B), that run from west (port) to east (end of the promenade Andrea Doria). There are also several daily buses to Ragusa and Catania and the nearest airport is Comiso Airport at 29 km (18 mi). The Provincial Road SP25 Ragusa Mare connects Ragusa to its beach resort.

The Port

The new port of Marina di Ragusa was designed in the 1980s but after a short time works stopped until the years 2006-2008, when with European Funding it was possible to complete it. The new port aims to became one of the major tourist ports of the island. The new structure is the biggest tourist port of Sicily and can moor over 800 boats and the new offices for the Coast Guard. As of July 2009^[update], there are also plans for a shopping centre and ferry service to Malta. It was officially opened the 3rd of July 2009.

Photo gallery

• 

  Sea-front at Marina with the port in the distance.

• 

  Boats in the port of Marina (March 2009).

• 

  The beach and the promenade A.Doria.

• 

  The Port of Marina di Ragusa.

References

External links

• The port of Marina on Youtube