Ragusa, the bottleneck of via Anfuso becomes an opportunity

The history is not an obstacle, but a heritage to be preserved and transformed into a resource. This is the message from the Deputy Mayor of Ragusa, Gianni Giuffrida, who in a social post recounted the evolution of a road intervention near via Anfuso, where in past decades ancient tombs carved into the rock have emerged, probably dating back to the late Roman or early Christian period, like many of the rock-cut necropolises spread throughout the Iblean territory.

“Our history cannot be an obstacle – writes Giuffrida – for this reason we have considered the discovery of the tombs not a limitation but an advantage.”

The administration has indeed decided to remodel the road project, creating a second lane that allows for bypassing the archaeological area, preserving it and making it visible. A choice that transforms what had been perceived for years as the “bottleneck of via Anfuso” – a critical point for traffic and a potential source of danger – into a identifying element of the neighborhood.

The presence of rock-cut tombs is not unusual in the Ragusa area: the Iblean plateau is dotted with necropolises carved into the rock, testimonies of ancient communities that have left deep marks on the landscape. In many cases, as seen in Cava d'Ispica or in the area of contrada Buttino, these findings have become an integral part of cultural and naturalistic paths. The administration's goal seems to move in the same direction: to integrate history into the urban fabric, rather than relegating it to a technical obstacle.

Giuffrida emphasizes the institutional collaboration that made this solution possible: “I thank the Superintendency, the technical office, the municipal police, and the city councilor Marco Galifi for their synergy and interest.” A synergy that, in a territory rich in archaeological stratifications, becomes essential to reconcile urban development and heritage protection.

The new road layout will not only improve safety and traffic flow, but also enhance the archaeological area, which can be made accessible and recognizable to residents. A change of perspective that transforms a constraint into an opportunity, and confirms an urban vision capable of engaging with history.

The “narrowing” of via Anfuso, therefore, is no longer a problem: it has become a symbol of how Ragusa can grow without losing its connection to its roots.