Donnafugata

Donnafugata is a hamlet of Ragusa, located in the southeastern coast of Sicily.

The name “Donnafugata” literally means “fleeing woman” and refers to the legend that a lady, who run away from her castle to avoid having to marry the son of the king of Spain, took refuge in this area. Today, Donnafugata is most famous for its castle, built in the 18th century by the noble family of Arezzo di Donnafugata.

The baroque-style castle has been chosen as location for various TV series and films, including “The Leopard” from Luchino Visconti. In addition to the castle, there are several churches in Donnafugata, including the Mother Church, several villas and noble palaces. The area is also popular for wine production, especially Cerasuolo di Vittoria, the unique sicilian DOCG red wine made from grapes from the surrounding area.