The island of the Greek city, with a cathedral built into a temple
Founded in 734 BC by Corinthian colonists, Syracuse became the largest and most powerful city of the Greek world, the rival of Athens and Carthage, homeland of Archimedes. Its oldest heart is Ortigia, an island joined to the mainland by two bridges, a maze of baroque palaces, medieval lanes and sea views, a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the necropolis of Pantalica.
The cathedral is unique: its baroque façade hides a Greek Doric temple of Athena from the fifth century BC, whose columns are still visible in the walls and nave. The elliptical Piazza Duomo, one of the most beautiful in Sicily, is lined with baroque palaces and the church of Santa Lucia alla Badia, which holds Caravaggio's Burial of St Lucy. By the sea, the Fonte Aretusa is a freshwater spring with papyrus and ducks, linked to the myth of the nymph Arethusa.
Tip: visit the morning market of Ortigia for street food and fresh fish; walk the seafront promenade to the Castello Maniace at sunset.
Where it is
More things to see in Sicily
Where to stay near Syracuse
Tours and activities nearby
Offers from GetYourGuide. Some links are affiliate links: if you book we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.