Italy / Sicily / Syracuse (Ortigia)Syracuse (Ortigia)
The Greek World's Great City, and the Island of Ortigia
Once the greatest city of the Greek world, on Sicily's south-east coast. Its old town is the little island of Ortigia: the baroque Piazza Duomo, where the cathedral is built into a Greek temple of Athena whose columns still stand in its walls, the Fountain of Arethusa, the morning market, and swims off the rocks in summer. On the mainland, the Neapolis park holds the Greek theatre, the Roman amphitheatre and the Ear of Dionysius cave, and the Paolo Orsi museum one of the best Greek collections in Italy. Classical Greek plays are staged in the ancient theatre in early summer. Noto and the other baroque towns of the Val di Noto are 40 minutes away. Catania airport is about an hour by Interbus coach (or train from Catania); Taormina is about 2 hours.
Highlights
- Piazza Duomo and the cathedral built into a Greek temple
- Greek theatre and the Ear of Dionysius
- Fountain of Arethusa
- Ortigia's morning market
- Paolo Orsi Archaeological Museum
- Greek plays in the ancient theatre (early summer)
- Day trip to baroque Noto
- Swimming off Ortigia's rocks
Things to do
- Neapolis park: the Greek theatre, the Roman amphitheatre and the Ear of DionysiusMorning · 3h
- Ortigia walk: Piazza Duomo, the cathedral and the Fountain of ArethusaAfternoon · 2h 30m
- Ortigia market and a street-food lunchMorning · 1h 30m
- Paolo Orsi Archaeological MuseumAfternoon · 2h
- Noto's baroque old town (half-day)Morning · 4h
- Swim off the rocks of OrtigiaAfternoon · 2h
- Sunset on the Ortigia seafront and dinnerEvening · 2h
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: April – June, September – October
Worth knowing
August Peak: Italians on Holiday
August, and the week of Ferragosto (15 August) above all, is the busiest time on the coasts, lakes and islands: rooms cost the most of the year and sell out, beaches and beach clubs fill, ferries and trains to the coast are booked solid, and roads jam. Book rooms, ferries and trains months ahead, or come in June or September.
Heads up
Summer Heat
July and August regularly bring heatwaves of 35-40 °C to Rome, Florence, the south and Sicily. Sightsee early and late, rest in the afternoon, carry water (Rome's street fountains are drinkable), and book rooms with air-conditioning. Churches still require covered shoulders and knees, so carry a light scarf.