HomepageExcursions and ActivitiesAccommodationsDestinationsAbout UsReviewsBlogTermsServicesContact
X

Ortigia (Siracusa)

the island of Baroque and Archimede

Ortigia, the Island
The tragic earthquake of 1693 did not spare Syracuse either, and a century later the devastated parts were rebuilt in Baroque style. This sequence of sublime historical events has left traces in this seaside gem of a city. Today, Syracuse consists of three parts: the island of Ortigia, the oldest settlement of the city connected to the mainland by three bridges; Acradina, a flat area in the hinterland of Ortigia; and the new part that has developed around the archaeological park of Neapolis. Not to be missed are the cliffs, beaches, and the crystal-clear waters of Fontane Bianche and dell'Arenelia.
The important buildings and monuments of Ortigia must undoubtedly be discovered. Don't forget the Maniace Castle at the tip of the island, the Temple of Apollo from the 6th century BC near Piazza Pancali, the splendid Cathedral with its broad Doric columns, and the Fountain of Arethusa, a source of fresh water since the Greek times where you can admire the Papireto of Syracuse and the only place in Italy, and perhaps even in Europe, where the papyrus plant has grown spontaneously. Since 2005, Syracuse, along with the necropolis of Pantalica, has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List.