Ibleo

Ibleo is a term used in Italian to denote things related to the Hyblaean or Iblean region of southeastern Sicily, especially the Monti Iblei and the historic towns around Ragusa. The Monti Iblei form a limestone mountain range that runs across the southeast of the island, primarily within the provinces of Ragusa and Siracusa. The landscape is marked by rugged hills, limestone outcrops, and seasonal canyons, with numerous caves and archaeological sites. The name is derived from Hybla, an ancient city cited in classical sources, and has given rise to the adjective Ibleo (or Iblean) used to describe the region and its culture.

Geographically, the Iblean area overlaps with the Val di Noto, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for late Baroque towns such as Ragusa Ibla, Modica, Scicli, and Noto. Ragusa Ibla, the historic core of Ragusa, was rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake in a distinctive Baroque style and remains a focal point for tourism and heritage.

Historically, evidence from sites like Cava d'Ispica attests to long-term habitation from prehistoric times through Greek and later Arab periods. Linguistically, Ibleo refers to the local Sicilian dialects in the southern part of Sicily. The region is also known for culinary specialties, notably Modica chocolate, and for its architecture and landscape, which continue to shape the cultural identity of southeastern Sicily.