Syracuse between antiquity, the sea and everyday Sicilian life
Ancient city, island centre and sea
Syracuse combines an island centre with richly layered traces of antiquity and distinctive coastal and natural landscapes. Ortigia is the historic centre of ancient Syracuse and an island that has been inhabited for around 3,000 years. Ortigia is connected to the rest of Siracusa by the two bridges Ponte Umbertino and Ponte Santa Lucia. Siracusa railway station is approximately 1.5 kilometres from the centre of Ortigia.
Neapolis: history carved into the rock
The Neapolis archaeological area occupies the northern part of the district of the same name, one of five districts that made up Siracusa in Greek and Roman times. The area includes the Altar of Hieron II, a monumental altar for the city's public sacrifices, as well as the latomies with the Grotta dei Cordari and the Ear of Dionysius. The Greek Theatre is carved entirely into the rock of Temenite Hill and is still used today during theatre seasons as a venue for performances, tragedies and classical productions. The Roman amphitheatre is also part of the area; its dating is disputed and is attributed by some to Augustus and by others to Septimius Severus. The so-called Tomb of Archimedes is also located there, a burial chamber from Roman times carved into the rock face. The Ear of Dionysius is known for acoustic phenomena such as amplification and echo.
Ortigia: art, architecture and the stage
The Palazzo Bellomo houses collections of medieval and modern art and is an important building of Swabian origin. Columns from the Temple of Athena have been preserved on the north side of the Cathedral of Siracusa. Castello Maniace stands at the tip of Ortigia and was built by Frederick II between 1232 and 1240 on the site of an older fortress. Siracusa is also home to Sicily's oldest stone Doric temple, as well as a pilgrimage site. The Teatro dei Pupi brings the old yet contemporary theatrical form of the Opra dei pupi back to life.
Nature and the underwater world
The Fiume Ciane e Saline di Siracusa Nature Reserve protects and revitalises papyrus along the River Ciane and preserves the environmental value of the wetlands of the Saline di Siracusa. The Ciane has a species-rich riverside vegetation, including species that are rare in Sicily, as well as wildlife associated with river and wetland habitats. The Plemmirio Marine Protected Area is designated as an ASPIM, a specially protected area of Mediterranean importance; it includes the special protection area ITA090030 Fondali del Plemmirio. There are underwater trails there with ten access points to the seabed. In areas of the seabed with abrupt slopes, numerous underwater caves are home to corals, sponges, bryozoans, slipper lobsters, nudibranchs and numerous fish species. Capo Murro di Porco offers opportunities to observe large pelagic fish and marine mammals such as tuna, amberjacks, sharks, dolphins, whales and sperm whales. Gli Archi is a wall dive suitable for all divers because it presents no particular difficulties.
Excursions and walks
In the immediate regional surroundings of Siracusa lies Pantalica, a rocky landscape with more than 5,000 tombs carved into the rock. Castello Eurialo stands at the highest point of the Epipoli plateau in the Belvedere district of Siracusa, approximately 8 kilometres from the city centre, and offers extensive views across the city. In Siracusa, a simple two-day walking tour following in the footsteps of the Greeks, with five stops, provides an orientation for exploring the ancient city.
Market, wine and local character
At the Ortigia market, vendors offer vegetables, meat, dairy products, pulses, fish and seafood, accompanied by the so-called “Vanniate”. A wine route through the area takes in Ortigia, the Baroque churches and the market and ends with a wine tasting at a local winery. Particularly high-quality wines include Siracusa Moscato, also available as Passito or Spumante, as well as red wines based on Nero d’Avola and Syrah. When choosing accommodation, you can therefore weigh up whether to focus your trip on Ortigia and Neapolis, Plemmirio, the Fiume Ciane e Saline di Siracusa Nature Reserve, or market and wine experiences.
For the higher-level travel overview: Sicily.
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