Santa Croce Camerina

In the province of Ragusa, there is a town of about 10 thousand inhabitants called Santa Croce Camerina.

Surely many will know some of its seascapes, especially the area of Punta Secca, for the images that have become famous thanks to the filming of ‘Commissario Montalbano’.

History

Santa Croce Camerina was anciently born as a Greek colony in 598 B.C., with the name of Kamarina. Over the centuries it passed under different dominations that followed one another in the territory: Roman, Arab, Greek and Norman, which left an unmistakable architectural imprint on the structure of the town.

What to see

In addition to the landscapes of immeasurable beauty, in the seaside village you can visit precious buildings, such as the Mother Church, a structure erected in the 13th century and renovated in the 18th century. It has three naves laid out in minimalist style and an imposing contrasting Baroque façade. Inside, there is a canvas copy of Caravaggio’s Madonna of Loreto.

All around the Mother Church are several fine buildings, such as Palazzo Vitale Ciarcià, Palazzo Portelli, Palazzo Pace (in Art Nouveau style) and Palazzo Carratello (in Baroque style).

For the archaeology lovers, there is the Kamarina Regional Museum, which houses an important heritage collected both near the harbour and in the necropolis and the area inhabited today. But it is not the only one: there is also the KauKana Archaeological Park, in which 30 buildings that made up the historic settlement have been found and which are all in an excellent state of preservation, as well as a church that was only recently discovered with a beautiful mosaic floor.

The beaches

The most beautiful beaches on the coast are located at Casuzze, Caucana, Punta Braccetto and Punta Secca, the best known to tourists.

Punta Braccetto has a soft sandy beach, but has caves and rocks perfect for underwater fishing enthusiasts.

KauKana and Casuzze are further south than the others, right on the border of the municipality, also with warm sandy beaches.