Siracusa Information

Siracusa should be on your travel itinerary. It is possibly Sicily's most beautiful city and that's saying a lot when you consider the choice on the island and even the other places we have featured on this website.

Most people have a lot of time for Siracusa and will visit it repeatedly for its stunning location by the sea, age-old churches, atmospheric alleyways, mouth watering seafood and various archaeological treasures - these date back to the Greek and Roman era. Siracusa was a very important Greek city and its ruins will probably be a highlight of your Sicilian experience.

How to get to Siracusa

Siracusa lies in the south-eastern corner of Sicily, 87 km south of Catania. It is located on a small peninsula and there are sea views from many of its streets. The island of Ortigia is where most tourist sights are located. It is connected to the mainland via a bridge and is barely a kilometre in length.

Siracusa is capital of the province of the same name so transport in and around the city is quite good. Trains and buses all provide connections to major centres around Sicily and within the province like Avola, Noto, Pachino, Modica and so on. Siracusa is also a stopping point on the historic train that journeys around the region, the Treno Barocco del Val di Noto.

You should be able to walk around Siracusa particularly if you're staying in Ortigia. If you're not, you can catch local AST city buses around town, these are useful if journeying between Ortigia and the mainland.

Things to do and see in Siracusa

While Siracusa does not drip as much Sicilian Baroque architecture as other towns in this province, it has enough to be gob smacking and in fact it’s the combination of architecture here that makes it so fascinating. The Piazza del Duomo is one of the best examples of this. Make sure you take some time to sit down and take it all in. It truly is one of Sicily's great squares. The palaces and mansions surrounding the square are all built in Baroque style. The Duomo itself also has a real mix of architectural styles including a Baroque facade (once Norman) and Doric columns inside on an Ionic temple base.

Near the Dumo is Fontana Aretusa, a 1000 year-old freshwater spring about which myths describe how the goddess Artemis transformed her handmaiden Aretusa into a spring. It's a good spot for a picnic or to enjoy the waterfront views.

The rabbit warren of streets that comprises Ortigia are worth ducking down to explore at will. Keep an eye out for the San Martino church (one of Siracusa's oldest) and the 13th Century Castello Maniace. When you’ve had enough of exploring or eating, simply head down to the sea waters. There are a number of rocky little outlets and even lidos (beaches) you can access the water from.

In the mainland section of Siracusa it's worth visiting the Roman Gymnasium dating from the first century AD, a byzantine bathhouse known as Edificio Termale and the ancient Arsenale by Porto Piccolo where ships were refurbished. Tyche in the north is riddled with gloomy, spooky catacombs - make sure you bring a friend. And the Parco Archaeologico della Neapolis is an absolute must. It includes a Roman amphitheatre, a limestone quarry, prison, altars and sanctuaries.

To uncover more of Siracusa's ancient treasures you will need to visit the Museo Archeologico Paolo Orsi. It contains finds from one of the sarcophagus of the catacombs. Other museums include the Museo del Papiro explaining the history and techniques of using the Papyrus plant.

If you fancy some cycling or walking activity head out to the Riserva di Ciane just out of town to enjoy the papyrus-lined walkways along the river mouth. There are also plenty of bird, plant and fish species in this area. You can also explore this river by canoe.

If you fancy exploring other archaeological sites in this region you might like to go to Megara Hyblaea, a Greek colony north of Siracusa.

Accommodation and restaurants in Siracusa

Eating out in Siracusa is a real treat with restaurants featuring the fine produce of the region. There are lots of really great places to eat particularly in Ortigia. Places that come recommended down the alleyways and in the squares include Don Camillo, Trattoria Kalliope, Osteria Mariano and Ristorante Darsena da Ianuzzo.

If you're looking for somewhere to rest your head for the night there is a hostel in Siracusa on the mainland. Campsites lie just to the north and south of Siracusa. There are plenty of B&Bs and hotels in town. If you don't mind staying a little out of town, the Agriturismo Limoneto and Villa dei Papiri are highly recommended.

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