Syracuse is a beautiful city with a very long and rich history, with many traces of it preserved. Tourists usually come here for one or two days, spending the rest of the time in Catania, Noto or Taormina, but the city has so much charm that I recommend staying there longer!
Syracuse is a very important historical center and now also a substantial modern town to the south-east of Sicily. It has an almost unbroken history that stretches back 2500 years, with artefacts to be seen in the town from each historical era.
The town is now one of the most visited on Sicily, and because of its monuments and historical importance Syracuse is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.
When is the best time to visit Syracuse?
The rules here are similar to other Sicilian cities. In summer it can be very hot, while in winter there are fewer tourists, but in case of rain, the Catacombs of St. Jana or even part of the Archaeological Park may be closed.
Maniace Castle
Castello Maniace is a citadel and castle in Syracuse, Sicily. It is located on a remote point on the tip of the island of Ortygia, where it was built between 1232 and 1240 by Emperor Frederick II. It is named after George Maniakes, the Byzantine general who besieged and captured the city in 1038.
Old Town
The old town of Syracuse is really worth visiting, with lots of narrow streets, some busy with shops and cafes, others with old houses and very few visitors. The wonderful historic old town fascinates many tourists, no wonder it was appreciated and included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the old town you will come to an open square called Piazza Archimede with a large fountain: it was only added in the early 20th century, but has a classical tradition and is impressive. The sculptures depict Diana and Arethusa in an episode from mythology taken from Ovid’s story in the Metamorphoses.
Fountain of Diana
Fountain of Diana is also known as the Fountain of Artemis, as the original Greek name for the Roman goddess Diana was Artemis. Diana is the goddess of the hunt, wild animals and wilderness, childbirth and virginity, and was often shown carrying a bow and arrow. She was the daughter of Zeus and twin sister of Apollo, the god of music, truth and prophecy. The fountain was created by Giulio Moschetti in 1907 using reinforced concrete. The fountain includes a triton and a mermaid with a child on her lap riding sea monsters, and also includes Arethusa and Alpheus (Diana is helping Arethusa to escape unwanted attention from Alpheus, who fell in love with her after seeing her bathing nude in a stream).
Fountain of Arethusa
On the island of Ortigia, in the oldest part of Syracuse, there is a place Fountain Arethusa. It is a freshwater spring that gushes out at the seashore, forming a small lake inhabited by fish and plants. A unique place that has inspired poets and writers like Pindar, Moschus, Ovid, Virgil, D’Annunzio, John Milton, and Alexander Pope. Not only that, the spring also inspired Polish composer Karol Szymanowski. The Fountain of Arethusa in Syracuse is an integral part of the city’s history and inspired an ancient Greek myth. Today it is one of the island’s main tourist attractions.
Temple of Apollo
The Temple of Apollo is located on the island of Ortigia in Syracuse, very close to the Piazza Pancali and the bridge leading to the mainland. It is thought that the Temple of Apollo is the earliest Doric temple in Sicily; it dates from the early 6th century BC. The Temple has been likened to the Olympieion in Athens and it follows the Doric peripteral form, with 6 columns in the front and 17 on the sides. The columns are 7.9 metres high and the gap between them was very small – less than the arm span of a person. The reason for the spacing has been attributed to concern for structural weaknesses and effectively carrying the weight of the structure; the walls of the cella were made entirely out of stone. The roof of the temple was protected with terracotta tiles and it’s function changed throughout the ages; it has served as both a church and a mosque.
Ear of Dionysius
Siracusa Ear of Dionysius, situated behind the Greek theater, the mysteries and legends that lie beyond its history have always fascinated historians and visitors. Being for the odd shape of the cave, being for the better understanding of myths and stories that make this place magical, this limestone cave is one of a kind. The city of Syracuse and its walls, imbued with the history and the finest aspects of Greek and Romanian culture, have always attracted the greatest thinkers and artists, from Plato to Caravaggio.
Neapolis Archaeological Park
The Archaeological Park of the Neapolis is one of the best attraction of Syracuse rich in history and incredible findings. The archaeological park of the Neapolis hosts the most important ruins of the old Greek Roman city of Syracuse. This park is divided in three sections which include the Latomie, the Greek theatre and the Roman amphitheatre. Neapolis was one of the five quarters of Syracuse during the Greek and Roman periods. It is considered an open air museum where it is possible to find a massive collection of ruins dating back to Sicily’s glorious days.
Ortygia Island
Ortigia is a small island which is the historical centre of the city of Syracuse, Sicily. The island, also known as Città Vecchia (Old City), contains many historical landmarks. Ortygia is located at the eastern end of Syracuse and is separated from it by a narrow channel. Two bridges connect the island to mainland Sicily. The island is an extremely popular place for tourism, shopping, entertainment and also a residential area.
Syracuse Cathedral
The cathedral in Syracuse is an important part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site listing given to the city of Syracuse for its fine architecture spanning Greek, Roman and Baroque eras. The current cathedral was built by Bishop Zosimo of Syracuse in the 7th century on the site of the 5th century Temple of Athena. The doric pillars of the original temple have been incorporated into the walls of the cathedral and you can see these columns both on the outside and the inside of the cathedral.
Spiaggia della Pillirina (Beach)
Spiaggia Pillirina is a picturesque beach located in the southern region of Isola, Italy. The beach is approximately 200 meters long and features fine, golden sand. Tourits ery like this place. There are several attractions worth exploring near Spiaggia Pillirina . The nearby Cava Grande del Cassibile nature reserve features stunning waterfalls and hiking trails. You can also take a boat tour to explore the sea caves or visit the nearby Castello Maniace.
Palazzo Beneventano del Bosco
Palazzo Beneventano del Bosco is a large municipal palace, located in piazza Duomo, opposite the current city hall and diagonally to the cathedral of Syracuse, on the island of Ortigia. The Palazzo Beneventano del Bosco is a large building dates from the Middle Ages, when it was constructed for the Arezzo family. However, the building seen today dates mostly from the late 18th century, when was largely rebuilt between 1779 and 1788 in the Sicilian Baroque style following its purchase by Baron Guglielmo Beneventano.
Bellomo Palace Regional Gallery
The Galleria Regionale collection housed in Palazzo Bellomo in Siracusa, Sicily comprises a series of valuable items dating from the Byzantine period to the late 19th century. With a variety of heterogeneous origins, they bear witness to a wealth of local art and, more generally, to the history of culture and changing tastes. The displays in the rooms of the medieval Palazzo Parisio and Palazzo Bellomo have been deliberately arranged to suit their setting. Each piece has an artistic value in its own right, but is also an integral part of a process of enhancement, in terms of both time and space, to the context which produced it.
