It’s a special place with dry stone walls reminiscent of the Yorkshire Dales, lush vegetation, and wildflower meadows in spring, akin to England 50 years ago. Villages and small towns, mostly built of stone in high Baroque style, defy expectations of Sicily and the urban sprawl of Palermo and Catania.
Characterized by a very warm climate, boasting 300 days of sunshine per year, Ragusashire encompasses the best of Sicily: pristine beaches, verdant countryside, art, history, and a rich culinary tradition. Everything is here – under the sun. (Source: Ragusashire.co.uk)
In 2004, The Daily Telegraph, in its real estate insert Property, recommended buying in the province of Ragusa to its compatriots, highlighting the idyllic scenery, fabulous climate, and, of course, quality food and wines.
Ragusa is considered the “babba” province, meaning “not malicious” or “not bad” in dialect; a Sicily without the mafia, where one can live quite well. Following the famous Tuscan Chiantishire, Ragusa emerged as the second preference for the English.
Sunway srl
The story begins with the foundation of “Sunway srl,” a Sicilian company dedicated to the promotion, development, organization, and management of goods and services related to local tourist activities. The ingenious idea was to recover the hidden and decayed beauties of Sicily, transforming tourism by exploring the extraordinary hinterland and the most genuine soul of the island.
“Sunway” identified urban and agricultural ruins of proven architectural value, restored them with modern criteria and materials while respecting the original character and environmental context, and then offered them for sale. Raffaella D’Andrea, the Sicilian and “Londoner” owner of the company, wasn’t surprised by the success of the initiative, as Sicily is a wonderful land, largely still little known.
British and foreigners from various countries are captivated by Sicily’s natural, architectural, and artistic beauty. While Tuscany often steals the spotlight, Sicily boasts equal charm, with abundant sunshine, a mild climate, and enchanting seas.
(Source: La Repubblica Newspaper – 18/06/2015)
