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When you come in Siracusa, you have to visit Ortigia. Browse the guides by City Map and see the beautiful attractions and monuments in the island.
- Guide
SCOPRI LE NOSTRE GUIDE LA NOSTRA MIGLIORE RACCOLTA TEMATICA....
- Guide
- A Brief History of Siracusa and Ortigia Island
- Visiting Ortigia Island– The Heart of Siracusa, Sicily
- Attractions on Ortigia Island
- What to Visit Outside Ortigia Island
- Where to Stay When Visiting Siracusa and Ortigia Island
- Where to Eat on Ortigia Island
Siracusa (or Syracuse) was built on Ortigia Island which is located near the southeastern corner of Sicily. Ortigia was the site of an ancient Greek settlement founded by the Corinthians in 734 B.C. In its greatest period of economic prosperity and military power, Siracusa had a population of 300,000. The city was home to many ancient Greek persona...
Also known as Città Vecchia, the small island of Ortigia (or Ortygia, in English) is the oldest part of the beautiful city of Siracusa, Sicily. The name “Ortigia” derives from the Ancient Greek ortyx, which means “quail.” The best way to see Ortigia is just to wander around. The island is fairly small (about 1km long and 600 meters wide), so you ca...
1. The Temple of Apollo
Right as you enter into Ortigia, you’ll come across the remains of the Temple of Apollo, dating back to the 6th Century B.C. The temple was supposedly the first great Doric temple of its kind in Sicily. Throughout the centuries the temple underwent several transformations: from a Byzantine church to an Islamic mosque.
2. Piazza Archimede and the Fountain of Diana
Piazza Archimede was built in 1878 to honor the famous mathematician Archimede, who was killed by the Romans in 212 B.C., during the siege of Siracusa. Archimede’s tomb is located in the Archaeological Park on the mainland. At the center of the Piazza is the beautiful Fountain of Diana, the Roman goddess. The fountain pretty much marks the center of Ortigia as well.
3. Piazza Duomo and the Cathedral of Siracusa
The highlight of Ortigia is the marvelous Piazza Duomo, that dates back to the 5th century B.C. As you stroll through the labyrinth of narrow ancient streets, you suddenly find yourself in this large square dominated by the Cathedral of Siracusa. The Cathedral was actually built around the ancient Temple of Athena. You can still see the ancient Doric columns of the Greek temple in the wall of today’s cathedral.
Archeological Park in Siracusa
Unlike Ortigia Island which is full of medieval buildings with a lot of character, chick restaurants, and many attractions, Siracusa is just a working Sicilian town. Other than the Greek/Roman ruins in the Archeological Park, there is not much else to see in Siracusa. However, for the history lovers, Siracusa’s Archeological Park of Neapolis (ParcoArcheologico della Néapolis) is a must! Although not as impressive as the vestiges we visited on Greece itinerary, or the ones at the Valley of the...
Archeological Remains in the Park
Besides the Greek Theater, which is bigger than the one in Taormina, there are some interesting remains of the the Altar of Hieron II (a grand altar for public sacrifices). Don’t miss the Street of Tombs, a series of cut deep into the bed-rock during the Hellenistic period. They say that one of these is the Tomb of Archimedes, the great mathematician, although many historians dispute this. Don’t miss the artificial caves on the top of the Greek Theater. They used to supply water for the theat...
Compared to Taormina that is perched up on the mountain offering spectacular views, Siracusa is quite flat. Therefore, there is no point in looking for a room with a view. The next question is what should you choose as your base: Siracusa, or Ortigia Island? If you come to Sicily by car, you should consider staying in Siracusa. Especially if you pl...
Sicilian food is delicious and finding good eats both in Siracusa or on Ortigia island is not a problem. Most restaurants in this area serve traditional Italian food: pasta dishes, risotto and plenty of seafood. There are of course the usual tourist traps where you’ll get mediocre food and bad service, especially in Ortigia. However, we stumbled up...
The MICHELIN Ortigia map: Ortigia town maps, road map and tourist map, with MICHELIN hotels, tourist sites and restaurants for Ortigia
Ortygia (/ ɔːrˈtɪdʒiə / or-TIJ-ee-ə; Italian: Ortigia [orˈtiːdʒa]; Ancient Greek: Ὀρτυγία, romanized: Ortygía) is a small island which is the historical centre of the city of Syracuse, Sicily. The island, also known as the Città Vecchia (Old City), contains many historical landmarks.
Ortygia is a small island which is the historical centre of the city of Syracuse, Sicily. Ortygia has about 4,270 residents. Mapcarta, the open map.
Jun 19, 2023 · The island of Ortigia Sicily is tiny, and you easy walk from one end to the other in around 15 minutes. The island has tiny streets of which you never know what you’ll encounter as you walk around them.
Apr 14, 2024 · Planning a visit to Syracuse, Sicily and the neighbouring island of Ortigia? Our guide for travellers has got you covered on the best things to do, where to eat + stay, plus advice on transport connections.
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