Ragusa (Sicilian: Rausa) is a city in Sicily, built on a limestone hill between 2 deep valleys. Along with 7 other cities in the Val di Noto, it’s listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Its origins can be traced back to the 2nd millennium BC, when there were several settlements of the ancient Sicels. The ancient city entered in contact with nearby Greek colonies, and developed thanks to the nearby port of Camerina. After a short Carthaginian rule, it was administered by the Romans and the Byzantines: the latter fortified it and built a large castle. It was occupied by the Arabs in 848 AD, remaining under their rule until the 11th century, when the Normans conquered it. It thereafter followed the events of the Kingdom of Sicily, created in the 12th century. A Chiaramonte family fief, it remained the county capital after the unification with that of Modica in 1296, a status it lost in the 15th century after a revolt. In 1693, it was devastated by a large earthquake, which killed 5,000 inhabitants. Following this, the city was largely rebuilt; many baroque buildings date from this period. Most of the population moved to a new settlement in the district of Patro, calling the new municipality "Ragusa Superiore" (Upper Ragusa) and the ancient city "Ragusa Inferiore" (Lower Ragusa). The 2 remained separate until 1926, when they were fused together to become the provincial capital at the expense of Modica, former capital and most populous and important city in the region since 1296.