If you want to travel to Sicily, Siracusa and Ortigia (Siracusa’s island historical centre) are definitely not to be missed. Inhabited for over 3,000 years and renowned for its Greek heritage, it is a UNESCO landmark for its “remarkable testimony of the Mediterranean cultures over the centuries” and makes for a perfect weekend escape in any season. Siracusa was probably our favourite city to visit during our three-week stay in Sicily. It is a fascinating town with a beautiful historical center and is packed with things to see and do, including numerous historical sites from the Greek and Roman time periods. Below we present our Top Things to See and Do in Siracusa Travel Guide. For a detailed one-day itinerary in Siracusa, be sure to also check our How to Spend a Day in Siracusa page.
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Ortigia
If you love gorgeous historical architecture, remnants of Roman and Greek ruins, and crisscrossing cobblestone streets, then Ortigia is for you. It is Siracusa’s beating heart and historical center. Dotted with impressive church facades, outdoor restaurants, and elegant piazzas, Ortigia is a perfect alternative to the often overrun and smaller Taormina. The most fun we had in Siracusa was just to aimlessly stroll through the various pedestrian-only streets and alleyways of Ortigia – a true labyrinth of picturesque little streets, nice squares, hidden courts, and Baroque buildings.
We spent several days in Siracusa and seemed to discover new streets and alleyways every day. But don’t worry about getting lost, the island is pretty small and no matter which way you go you will always find the seaside after a short walk.
Oh, and you’ll see beautiful fountains.
And Roman ruins.
The Temple of Apollo pictured above dates back to the VI century B.C. and is the oldest temple you’ll find in Sicily. It’s one of the first things you’ll come across as you enter Ortigia.
And beautiful crystalline sea views along the Lungomare Alfeo (Promenade)
And the scenic Siracusa Habour, which links Siracusa to Ortigia.
Piazza del Duomo (Ortigia)
Although the piazza is found within Ortigia, we felt it deserved its own entry. The piazza is as vast as it is elegant, and its central masterpiece, the Duomo (Cathedral), can be seen from every corner. It’s always very lively with musicians busking and artists sketching, and it is the perfect place for people-watching (from one of the many outdoor restaurant/bar patios) if there ever was one. This big pedestrian-only area is surrounded by many white stone buildings that will simply dazzle you. We kept coming back, day and night.
The Cathedral itself is a baroque gem in the heart of the old town. Yes, we know, churches and cathedrals tend to be overhyped in many places, but this is one really does deserve your attention. It is one of a kind, an incredible crossroad of cultures. From Greek temple to Norman church, it houses incredible treasures: such as the ancient temple of Athena! The cathedral was built in the 7th century over the Temple of Athena (5th century BC), a Doric temple with columns that are still visible as they were incorporated into the walls of the current church.
Neapolis Archaeological Park and Greek Theater
The Neapolis Archaeological Park is located on the northern side of Siracusa modern city, roughly a 25 min walk from Ortigia.
The archaeological park of the Neapolis hosts the most important ruins of the old Greek-Roman city of Siracusa. The park is divided into three main sections: the Greek Theatre, Latomia del Paradiso (Paradise Quarry), and the Roman Amphitheatre.
The park’s first section contains the quarry (pictured above), where prisoners and slaves were kept during ancient times. At the very end of the quarry, you’ll find a narrow but very tall cavern whose particular shape earned it the nickname “Ear of Dionysius” (it is shaped like an ear). It is rumoured to have allowed prison guards to hear every word uttered by the prisoners due to the sound resonance properties of the cavern.
Our favourite section of the Park was the Greek Theater. Constructed in the 5th century BC and rebuilt in the 3rd century, the 16,000-capacity amphitheatre cut directly out of the limestone rock with the seats facing the sea providing a wonderful view, especially from the top tiers of the theatre.
The last section is the 2nd-century Roman Amphitheatre, originally used for gladiatorial combats and horse races. The Spaniards, little interested in archaeology, largely destroyed the site in the 16th century, using it as a quarry to build Ortygia’s city walls.
For current timetables and up-to-date entrance fees, check out the Park’s official website.
Santuario della madonna delle Lacrime
The Basilica of the Madonna delle Lacrime (Our Lady of the Tears), is a modern 20th-century shrine that dominates the skyline of Siracusa. (In fact, you can see it at a distance in one of the pictures of the Greek theatre above). It was intentionally designed to resemble a teardrop, as it houses a statue of the Virgin Mary that allegedly wept for four days in 1953 and bestowed more than 300 miraculous cures.
The interior is amazing. You might get dizzy looking up at the vertical windows stretching skyward to the apex of the roof.
Catacombe di San Giovanni
System of underground tunnels with tombs & sarcophagi, dating back to the 6th century, which lies beneath Basilica di San Giovanni, which served as Siracusa’s cathedral until the 17th century.
Pista Ciclabile Siracusa
If you are looking to stretch your legs, go for a run, or rent a bike for a scenic ride, this is the place the go. Though only 7km in length (14km return), the path is built on the track of a now-abandoned railway just north of the city and offers stunning views of the coastline and its crystalline waters. We walked it to about halfway one afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed it.
When taking the bridge to leave Ortigia Island, turn right and walk along the seaside until you reach the Piazzale dei Cappuccini, where the multipurpose path begins.
Other things to see and do
Maniace Castle – former military fortress is located on the Southern tip of Ortigia island (link)
Arethusa Spring – natural spring in the western part of Ortigia island. It is located just a few meters from the sea and it forms a small lake surrounded by some papyrus trees and populated by fish and ducks
Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi – Located across the street from the Santuario della Madonna delle Lacrime in the modern part of town, it contains one of Italy’s finest archaeological collections. Here you will find artifacts from southern Sicily’s prehistoric inhabitants through the Romans, showcasing pieces in stunning modern surroundings.
Finally, here’s a map of where most of the sites listed above are scattered across Siracusa and Ortigia.
Short day trips from Siracusa
If you have some extra time, we can definitely recommend several highly interesting day trips you can take from Siracusa.
Vendicari Nature Reserve – If you are looking to stretch your legs along beautiful and scenic coastlines or to settle down on a gorgeous beach, this is the place for you. For more in-depth descriptions of the trails and beaches, check out the reserve’s official website. We particularly enjoyed the walk along the trail (pictured below) between the park’s main entrance and Calamosche beach.
If you prefer an exploration of history and beautiful baroque architecture, we recommend that you make your way to one (or several) of the nearby Baroque towns. These 3 Sicilian towns are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their magnificent Baroque churches and palaces
Ragusa – Our favourite of the three baroque towns was Ragusa, with its lovely pedestrian central street and impressive cathedral. We spent a few hours here, but we most definitely could have spent more. The views of Ragusa Ibla when climbing up the stairs to Ragusa Superiore were just spectacular! Perhaps even more impressively, the town is home to eighteen UNESCO World Heritage monuments.
Noto – Designated ‘Capital of Baroque Art’ by the Council of Europe, Noto is the most famous town of the Val di Noto. The art historian Cesare Brandi referred to Noto as the ‘garden of stone’. Here you will find a dazzling succession of palaces and churches
Modica – More baroque beauty combined with a delicious local chocolate scene. Here, the Baroque is not all condensed into a lane or square, it is spread out across a tangle of beautiful sloping streets and stairways.
Practical Infomation.
When to visit?
There’s no real wrong time to visit. But to avoid the crowds and the mid-summer heat, Siracusa is best visited in late spring (April-May) or early fall (Sept-Oct).
Where to stay?
Aside from cost and accommodation type, your decision really comes down to either staying in Ortigia or in Siracusa outside of the historic center, and both have their advantages.
Staying in Ortigia obviously means you are close to the action and tourist center, but you are also likely to pay a bit more for your accommodation. Also, it’s a less ideal location if you are travelling by car as several areas of Ortigia are pedestrian only and you would be required to park on paid public parking lots that may not be close to your hotel/accommodation. For that reason, we chose to stay in an Airbnb that was just outside of Ortigia in the Santa Lucia neighbourhood, located roughly midway between Ortigia and the main attractions of Siracusa, and where there was ample free street parking.
Where to eat?
For a delicious meal without views or theatrics, we can highly recommend the following two restaurants, which are somewhat tucked away in quaint alleyways:
Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Travel Guide of the Top Things to See and Do in Siracusa and that it will prove useful for planning your trip to Sicily!
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