Nomad Watch

Researched Updated Oct 29, 2026 Last changed Oct 31, 2026 About guide entries

Food and Drink

Best Dessert Spots
I Banchi (Via G.B. Odierna) - Artisan cannoli and pastries by chef Ciccio Sultano
Best Food Delivery App
Glovo and Deliveroo (active mainly in Superiore)
Best Local Dish to Try
Scaccia ragusana is the municipal De.Co. product called Scaccia rausana co pummaroru e cosacavadu. It is a very thin semolina sheet folded in layers with tomato passata, local semi-aged or aged caciocavallo, basil, olive oil and salt. 32
Vegan/Vegetarian Options
Tipico (Ragusa Ibla) - Offers veganized Sicilian classics
Affordable Shopping Spots
Mercato del Mercoledì (Wednesday Market, Contrada Selvaggio) 3
E-commerce/Online Store
Amazon.it (Prime delivery takes 2-3 days in Sicily)
Grocery Delivery
Conad or Decò Supermarkets via Everli app
Bar/Nightlife Area
Piazza San Giovanni (Superiore) and Largo San Paolo (Ibla)
Local Brewery
Birrificio Yblon (Via S. Leonardo) - Award winning Sicilian craft beer
Wine Bars
Vinovero (Via San Vito) - Extensive list of Cerasuolo di Vittoria wines
Street Food Stalls
Cantunera (Ibla) - Famous for gourmet Arancine
Popular International Cuisine
Konoha Sushi (Via Archimede) - High quality Japanese

Essentials

City
Ragusa is a comune and the seat of the free consortium of Ragusa, in southern Sicily, about 20 km from the sea. The historic centre joined the UNESCO list of Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto on 25 June 2002. The town is split between Ragusa Ibla and Ragusa Superiore. 1
Population
Tuttitalia, citing ISTAT, counts 74,122 residents on 1 January 2026. Italian Wikipedia counts 74,058 on 31 May 2026. 2 1
Internet Speed
Average 65 Mbps (Fiber available in Ragusa Superiore; slower in Ibla)
Currency & Banking
Euro. The ECB reference rate on 19 October 2026 was 1 EUR = 1.1225 USD, about 0.8909 EUR per USD. 5
Tap Water
Tap water in Italy is safe to drink. In the south it can taste of desalination. Do not drink from a fountain signed non potabile. Restaurants usually expect you to order bottled water. 4
Power
230 V, 50 Hz, with Europlug, Schuko and Italian Type L sockets. 4
SIM Card
iliad prepaid, with a passport; the shop can also generate a codice fiscale. GIGA 150 is €7.99 a month (150 GB), TOP 230 is €9.99 (230 GB in Italy plus 18 GB in the EU), and a new SIM costs €9.99 to activate. TIM, Vodafone and WindTre also sell prepaid SIMs. 6 4
Banking for Expats
Revolut and Wise highly recommended; local Postepay for Amazon.it users
Accommodation
Immobiliare.it asking rents in September 2026 averaged €6.43 per square metre a month in the comune, so a 50 m² flat is about €322. The centre zone Ibla, Centro, San Luigi and Archimede was €5.68, and Marina di Ragusa was €10.54. Sale asking prices averaged €1,144 per square metre. The page does not list a short-stay rate. 7
Cashless Friendly
Cards are widely used, and smaller shops still take cash. Most restaurants add a coperto and do not expect a tip; leaving small change is common. 4
Short Term Rentals
Airbnb (€800-€1,200/month), Idealista, or Subito.it
Budget Accommodation
Hygge Hostels (Via Ioppolo), approx. €30/night
Best Area to Stay for Tourists
Ragusa Ibla, the baroque quarter on the lower hill, holds the Duomo di San Giorgio and most of the historic sights. 3 1
Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
Central Ragusa has The Office coworking loft with shared desks and Wi-Fi. Ragusa Ibla is the baroque quarter on the lower hill. 10 3

Working and Networking

Best Coworking Space
The Office Ragusa is a central coworking loft with Wi-Fi, open desks, private offices and a meeting room. Its tariff page lists a desk at €15/day or from €150/month, excluding VAT; day desks have access Monday to Friday 09:00–18:00. 10 34
Best Cafe for Work
Prima Classe, which calls itself Locale Trasversale, is a cafe and bar at Via Ercolano 7. The comune lists it as a place you can use as an instant office. It is open Monday to Saturday from 07:00 to 01:30, and Sunday from 17:00. 11 12
Networking Events
Startup Weekend Sicily (occasional) or events at the University of Catania - Ragusa Campus
Social Events for Expats
Ragusa Facebook Expats Group; frequent meetups at Bamboo Bar in Marina di Ragusa

Transportation

Best Taxi/Ride App
No Uber; use local Radio Taxi Ragusa (+39 0932 1832)
Bike/Scooter Rental
Sicily Rent Car (Via Carduci) - E-bikes from €25/day
Best Beach Nearby
Marina di Ragusa is a frazione of the comune. FEE gave its beach the Blue Flag for 2026. 2
Top Regional Airline
ITA Airways (connections via Rome/Milan)
Top International Airline
Ryanair, EasyJet (via Comiso Airport CIY or Catania Fontanarossa CTA)
Highway Access
SS115 and SS514 (Connections to Syracuse and Catania) 3
Main Train/Transit Hub
Stazione di Ragusa is on Via Monsignor Angelo Rizzo, on the south side of the upper town. A March 2018 guide called the square Piazza Gramsci. The intercity bus terminal is on Via Zama. 14 3
Public Transport Passes
Etna Trasporti runs the town buses. A single ride is €1.20 in the app, online or at a ticket office, and €1.60 on the bus. From April 2026 an annual pass is €330. Weekly and monthly passes exist, but those pages do not print a monthly price. 8 9
Regional Travel
Etna Trasporti Bus to Catania (€9, 2 hours); Regional Train to Modica/Noto

Health and Wellness

Best Hospital
Ospedale Giovanni Paolo II, run by ASP Ragusa, is in Contrada Cisternazzi. The service charter gives the switchboard as 0932 600111. OpenStreetMap places it on Via Vittorio Tiralongo, in the Cisternazzi part of Puntarazzi. It opened on 23 October 2018. For an emergency call 112. 13 15 1 4
Yoga & Wellness Centers
Centro Yoga Shanti (Via Roma) - Hatha and Vinyasa classes
Gyms & Fitness Centers
Vitality Ragusa (Via delle Miniere) - High-end gym with pool, €55/month
Laundry Services
Lavanderia Self-Service 'Lava e Asciuga' (Via Archimede)

Culture and Attractions

Must-See Landmarks
Duomo di San Giorgio is on the west side of Piazza Duomo in Ragusa Ibla. Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Scale, dating to the 13th century, stands on the saddle between Ibla and the upper town. 3 16 17
Museums & Art Venues
Museo Archeologico Ibleo (Via Natalelli) 3 18
Historical Sites
Palazzo Arezzo di Trifiletti, also called Palazzo Arezzo-Bertini, is at Corso XXV Aprile 4 in Ragusa Ibla. A 2017 note said visits were by prior reservation. 3
Religious Sites
The cathedral of San Giovanni Battista is on Piazza San Giovanni in Ragusa Superiore. It was rebuilt in baroque style after the 1693 earthquake and has been the seat of the bishop since 1950. 1 3
Annual Events
Ibla Buskers (Street Performers Festival in October) 3
Cultural Districts
Ragusa Ibla and Ragusa Superiore sit on two hills joined by a saddle. The late baroque centre is one of the eight towns on the UNESCO Val di Noto list, with Modica and Scicli among the neighbours. 1
Theater Venues
Teatro Donnafugata is at Via Pietro Novelli 5, beside Palazzo Arezzo di Donnafugata in Ibla. 3
Local Markets
The main market is on Wednesdays at Contrada Selvaggio, next to the football stadium. A 2024 note also lists Thursday on Via A. De Gasperi, Friday at Piazza Tamanaco, and Saturday on Via P.S. Mattarella. 3
Music Scene
The Ibla Grand Prize is a classical music competition with concerts in the squares of Ibla, running from June to July. 3
Street Art
FESTIWALL murals (various industrial walls in Ragusa Superiore)
Cooking Classes
Rosso di Sicilia (Ibla) - Traditional pasta making
Art Galleries
Galleria Lo Magno (Via Pellegrini)
Historic Buildings
Palazzo Cosentini (Baroque balconies)
Local Heritage
On 25 June 2002 UNESCO listed the historic centre of Ragusa, with seven other towns, as the Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto. 1

Nature and Outdoor Activities

Nearby Nature Escapes
Riserva naturale Macchia Foresta del Fiume Irminio is a regional reserve at the mouth of the Irminio, in the comuni of Ragusa and Scicli. It was established in 1985 and covers about 135 hectares. 31
National Parks Nearby
The only Sicilian national park on the national list is the Island of Pantelleria, established in 2016. The Etna park is a regional park in the province of Catania, established on 17 March 1987. 29 30
Cycling/Walking Paths
Cava d'Ispica (Ancient cave dwellings and trails)
Scenic Viewpoints
Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Scale stands on the saddle between Ragusa Ibla and the upper town, on the stepped walk between them. 3 17
Birdwatching Locations
Oasi del Simeto (Near Catania, 1 hour away)
Bonfire-Friendly Spots
Designated picnic areas in Bosco di Santo Pietro (limited by fire season laws)

Other Services and Amenities

Parcel Delivery Service
Poste Italiane (Central Office: Piazza San Giovanni), DHL Express
Tech Repair Services
Riparazione iPhone e PC (Via Archimede, 112)
Table Tennis Spots
ASD Tennis Tavolo Ragusa (Via delle Miniere)
Language Classes
Scuola d’Italiano per Stranieri (Ibla)
Libraries & Study Spots
Biblioteca civica G. Verga is at Via Zama 3. The comune page updated on 18 March 2026 lists Monday to Friday 09:00 to 13:00, and also 15:00 to 18:30 on Tuesday and Thursday. It is closed in August for inventory. 33
Community Centers
City HUB Ragusa (Via San Vito)
Gaming Lounges
Ludoteca l’Isola che non c’è (Family oriented)
Casino & Gaming Halls
SNAI Vincitù (Via Archimede)

Business

Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
Immobiliare.it does not split asking prices by bedrooms. In September 2026 the zone Ibla, Centro, San Luigi and Archimede was €629 per square metre, about €25,160 for 40 m². The comune average was €1,144. 7
Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
Immobiliare.it has no sale series outside the comune. In September 2026 the zone Zona Industriale, Conservatore and San Giacomo was €864 per square metre, about €34,560 for 40 m². Marina di Ragusa, still in the comune, was €3,151. 7
1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
Immobiliare.it does not split asking prices by bedrooms. In September 2026 the zone Ibla, Centro, San Luigi and Archimede was €629 per square metre, about €37,740 for 60 m². 7
1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
Immobiliare.it has no sale series outside the comune. Zona Industriale, Conservatore and San Giacomo was €864 per square metre in September 2026, about €51,840 for 60 m². 7
2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
Immobiliare.it does not split asking prices by bedrooms. In September 2026 the zone Ibla, Centro, San Luigi and Archimede was €629 per square metre, about €50,320 for 80 m². 7
2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
Immobiliare.it has no sale series outside the comune. Zona Industriale, Conservatore and San Giacomo was €864 per square metre in September 2026, about €69,120 for 80 m². 7
Corporate Tax
IRES is 24% and ordinary IRAP is 3.9%. For 2025 only, PwC describes a cut of IRES from 24% to 20% for companies that reinvest profits. Regions may set different IRAP rates. 22
Dividend Withholding Tax
26% on dividends paid to resident individuals. The same 26% is the base withholding on share yields paid to non-treaty non-residents, before any treaty reduction. 24
Tax System
Tax residents are taxed on worldwide income. Residence is more than 183 days in the tax year, counting fractions of days, or a habitual home, or Italy as the centre of personal and family life. People registered as resident for most of the tax year are presumed resident unless they prove otherwise. 21 26
Highest Income Tax Bracket
43% national IRPEF on income above €50,000 in 2026. The bands under that are 23% up to €28,000 and 33% from €28,001 to €50,000. Regional tax is generally 1.23% to 3.33% and the municipal surcharge is 0% to 0.9%. 21
VAT
22% standard IVA. Reduced rates on listed supplies include 4%, 5% and 10%. 23
Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
Yes. From financial year 2024, an audited foreign subsidiary can be tested against a 15% effective rate, and more than one third of revenue must be passive. If the rate is under 15%, or the accounts are not certified, the company is in scope when effective tax is under 50% of the Italian IRES that would have applied. 25
Property Tax
IMU is not due on a primary home. The standard rate is 0.86% of cadastral value. A comune can raise it to 1.06% or cut it to zero. TARI is charged separately for waste. 23
Property Transaction Tax
From a private seller, or a company sale that is exempt from VAT, registration tax is 9% (minimum €1,000), plus €50 mortgage tax and €50 cadastral tax. Prima casa relief cuts registration tax to 2%. When the seller charges VAT, prima casa relief is 4% VAT instead of 10%, and VAT is 22% for cadastral categories A/1, A/8 and A/9. 27 28
Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
The impatriate regime offers a 50% exemption on qualifying Italian-source employment and self-employment income up to €600,000 for five years, subject to eligibility conditions. Tax residents otherwise pay tax on worldwide income. 19 21

About these guide entries

Method
Researched
Last updated
Oct 29, 2026
Last changed
Oct 31, 2026

Checked against the sources below and compared with similar cities. Numbers in the list point to these sources.

  1. Italian Wikipedia, Ragusa, population, UNESCO listing and the two hillsReference
  2. Tuttitalia Ragusa, 74,122 residents on 1 January 2026 and the 2026 Blue FlagSecondary
  3. Wikivoyage Ragusa, roads, station, sights, markets and the theatreSecondary
  4. Wikivoyage Italy, plugs, tap water, SIM registration, tipping and 112Secondary
  5. ECB euro reference, 19 October 2026Official
  6. iliad prepaid plans and SIM activationOfficial
  7. Immobiliare.it Ragusa asking prices, September 2026Listings
  8. Etna Trasporti Ragusa urban ticket, 1.20 euro and 1.60 euro on the busOfficial
  9. Ragusa Oggi, annual pass 330 euro from April 2026Secondary
  10. The Office Ragusa coworking, central loft with Wi-FiOfficial
  11. Prima Classe, Via Ercolano 7, hoursOfficial
  12. Comune di Ragusa, Prima Classe as an instant officeOfficial
  13. ASP Ragusa, Ospedale Giovanni Paolo II, Contrada CisternazziOfficial
  14. OpenStreetMap, Ragusa station on Via Monsignor Angelo RizzoReference
  15. OpenStreetMap, Giovanni Paolo II hospital on Via Vittorio TiralongoReference
  16. OpenStreetMap, Duomo di San GiorgioReference
  17. OpenStreetMap, Santa Maria delle ScaleReference
  18. OpenStreetMap, Museo Archeologico Ibleo on Via NatalelliReference
  19. Agenzia delle Entrate, impatriate regime from 2024Official
  20. Agenzia delle Entrate, 7 percent foreign-pension regimeOfficial
  21. PwC Italy personal income taxProfessional
  22. PwC Italy corporate taxProfessional
  23. PwC Italy VAT and municipal property taxProfessional
  24. PwC Italy withholding on dividendsProfessional
  25. PwC Italy controlled foreign company rulesProfessional
  26. PwC Italy tax residenceProfessional
  27. Agenzia delle Entrate, taxes when buying a homeOfficial
  28. Agenzia delle Entrate, prima casa reliefOfficial
  29. Wikipedia list of national parks of ItalyReference
  30. Italian Wikipedia, the Etna park is a regional parkReference
  31. Italian Wikipedia, Irminio reserve at the river mouthReference
  32. Comune di Ragusa, scaccia De.Co. specificationOfficial
  33. Comune di Ragusa, Biblioteca civica G. Verga, Via Zama 3Official
  34. The Office Ragusa desk prices and access hours, excluding VATOfficial

Change history

    • Method Generated Researched
    • 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) Approx. €1,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €60,000) Immobiliare.it does not split asking prices by bedrooms. In September 2026 the zone Ibla…
    • 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) Approx. €750 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €45,000) Immobiliare.it has no sale series outside the comune. Zona Industriale, Conservatore and…
    • 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) Approx. €950 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €76,000) Immobiliare.it does not split asking prices by bedrooms. In September 2026 the zone Ibla…
    • 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) Approx. €700 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €56,000) Immobiliare.it has no sale series outside the comune. Zona Industriale, Conservatore and…
    • Accommodation Airbnb, Booking.com, and local agencies like 'SoloAffitti Ragusa' Immobiliare.it asking rents in September 2026 averaged €6.43 per square metre a month in…
    39 more changes
    • Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads Italy South Tax Benefit: 7% flat tax for retirees; 'Lavoratori Impatriati' scheme (up to… The impatriate regime offers a 50% exemption on qualifying Italian-source employment and…
    • Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads Ragusa Superiore (Better infrastructure, supermarkets, and reliable fiber internet) Central Ragusa has The Office coworking loft with shared desks and Wi-Fi. Ragusa Ibla is…
    • Best Area to Stay for Tourists Ragusa Ibla (The historic baroque heart with major sights) Ragusa Ibla, the baroque quarter on the lower hill, holds the Duomo di San Giorgio and…
    • Best Beach Nearby Marina di Ragusa (25 mins drive), Blue Flag status beach Marina di Ragusa is a frazione of the comune. FEE gave its beach the Blue Flag for 2026.
    • Best Cafe for Work Prima Classe Locale Trasversale (Via Ercolano) - Spacious, good Wi-Fi, great coffee Prima Classe, which calls itself Locale Trasversale, is a cafe and bar at Via Ercolano 7…
    • Best Coworking Space Factory Spazio Creativo (Via San Vito, 41) - €15/day, €150/month The Office Ragusa is a central coworking loft with Wi-Fi, open desks, private offices and…
    • Best Hospital Ospedale Giovanni Paolo II (Contrada Puntarazzi, Ragusa) Ospedale Giovanni Paolo II, run by ASP Ragusa, is in Contrada Cisternazzi. The service…
    • Best Local Dish to Try Scaccia Ragusana (layered stuffed flatbread with tomato and cheese) Scaccia ragusana is the municipal De.Co. product called Scaccia rausana co pummaroru e…
    • Cashless Friendly Moderate; cards accepted in supermarkets and hotels, but cash preferred in small… Cards are widely used, and smaller shops still take cash. Most restaurants add a coperto…
    • City Ragusa, Sicily, Italy Ragusa is a comune and the seat of the free consortium of Ragusa, in southern Sicily…
    • Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules Yes, applies to residents with foreign interest Yes. From financial year 2024, an audited foreign subsidiary can be tested against a 15%…
    • Corporate Tax 24% (IRES) + 3.9% (IRAP regional tax) IRES is 24% and ordinary IRAP is 3.9%. For 2025 only, PwC describes a cut of IRES from 24%…
    • Cultural Districts The 'Baroque Valley' encompassing Ragusa, Modica, and Scicli Ragusa Ibla and Ragusa Superiore sit on two hills joined by a saddle. The late baroque…
    • Currency & Banking 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: Intesa Sanpaolo, Unicredit Euro. The ECB reference rate on 19 October 2026 was 1 EUR = 1.1225 USD, about 0.8909 EUR…
    • Dividend Withholding Tax 26% standard rate 26% on dividends paid to resident individuals. The same 26% is the base withholding on…
    • Highest Income Tax Bracket 43% for income over €50,000 43% national IRPEF on income above €50,000 in 2026. The bands under that are 23% up to…
    • Historical Sites Palazzo Arezzo di Trifiletti Palazzo Arezzo di Trifiletti, also called Palazzo Arezzo-Bertini, is at Corso XXV Aprile 4…
    • Libraries & Study Spots Biblioteca Civica 'Giovanni Verga' (Via Zama) Biblioteca civica G. Verga is at Via Zama 3. The comune page updated on 18 March 2026…
    • Local Heritage UNESCO World Heritage Site listing for Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto On 25 June 2002 UNESCO listed the historic centre of Ragusa, with seven other towns, as…
    • Local Markets Mercato Contadino (Farmer's Market) at Piazza Libertà (Saturdays) The main market is on Wednesdays at Contrada Selvaggio, next to the football stadium. A…
    • Main Train/Transit Hub Stazione di Ragusa (Piazza del Popolo); AST Bus Terminal for regional travel Stazione di Ragusa is on Via Monsignor Angelo Rizzo, on the south side of the upper town…
    • Music Scene Ibla Grand Prize (Classical music competition in July) The Ibla Grand Prize is a classical music competition with concerts in the squares of…
    • Must-See Landmarks Duomo di San Giorgio (Ibla) and Santa Maria delle Scale Duomo di San Giorgio is on the west side of Piazza Duomo in Ragusa Ibla. Chiesa di Santa…
    • National Parks Nearby Parco dell'Etna (1.5 hours north) The only Sicilian national park on the national list is the Island of Pantelleria…
    • Nearby Nature Escapes Riserva Naturale del Fiume Irminio (Coastal reserve) Riserva naturale Macchia Foresta del Fiume Irminio is a regional reserve at the mouth of…
    • Population 73,000 Tuttitalia, citing ISTAT, counts 74,122 residents on 1 January 2026. Italian Wikipedia…
    • Power 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F/L sockets 230 V, 50 Hz, with Europlug, Schuko and Italian Type L sockets.
    • Property Tax IMU (Second homes only) and TARI (Waste tax) IMU is not due on a primary home. The standard rate is 0.86% of cadastral value. A comune…
    • Property Transaction Tax 2% for primary residence, 9% for others (plus registration fees) From a private seller, or a company sale that is exempt from VAT, registration tax is 9%…
    • Public Transport Passes Local AST Bus tickets approx. €1.20 per ride; Monthly pass €35 Etna Trasporti runs the town buses. A single ride is €1.20 in the app, online or at a…
    • Religious Sites Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista The cathedral of San Giovanni Battista is on Piazza San Giovanni in Ragusa Superiore. It…
    • SIM Card TIM, Vodafone, WindTre (TIM has best coverage in rural Sicily); €15-20 for 100GB iliad prepaid, with a passport; the shop can also generate a codice fiscale. GIGA 150 is…
    • Scenic Viewpoints Church of Santa Maria delle Scale (Best view of Ibla) Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Scale stands on the saddle between Ragusa Ibla and the upper…
    • Studio Purchase Price (City Center) Approx. €1,100 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €44,000) Immobiliare.it does not split asking prices by bedrooms. In September 2026 the zone Ibla…
    • Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) Approx. €850 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €34,000) Immobiliare.it has no sale series outside the comune. In September 2026 the zone Zona…
    • Tap Water Drinkable, but high mineral content; locals often prefer bottled or filtered water Tap water in Italy is safe to drink. In the south it can taste of desalination. Do not…
    • Tax System Worldwide income basis for residents Tax residents are taxed on worldwide income. Residence is more than 183 days in the tax…
    • Theater Venues Teatro Donnafugata (Ibla) - One of the smallest and most beautiful in Italy Teatro Donnafugata is at Via Pietro Novelli 5, beside Palazzo Arezzo di Donnafugata in…
    • VAT 22% standard rate 22% standard IVA. Reduced rates on listed supplies include 4%, 5% and 10%.

    fix pass updated Best Coworking Space with the published desk prices and access hours, removed its unsupported street address from Best Coworking Space and Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads, and aligned Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads with the country prep and Modica; refreshed research provenance and recorded citation limits. Prima Classe address and hours, library address and hours, asking property prices and bus fares were rechecked without changing their values (theofficeragusa.it, theofficeragusa.it, taxsummaries.pwc.com)

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