holidays in siracusa

Siracusa, which is sometimes referred to as Syracuse in English, was once one of the key Cities of the ancient Greek world. The earliest Greek settlements are recorded from the 7th century BC, but by the 4th century BC the City and Province had become so influential that it dominated the Western Mediterranean, despite attempts by the rulers of Athens to bring the City to heel.

The old town is centred on Ortygia (or Ortigia), which is a promontory connected to the mainland by the Ponte Umbertino. Besides the narrow streets and Baroque houses, the town has several important historical sites, including the Temple of Apollo, which is thought to be the oldest Doric Temple in Western Europe. Built in 6th century BC, the temple has inscriptions, which show the dedication to Apollo, although not much of the original structure remains standing. The cathedral can be found in the heart of Ortygia, located in the Piazza Duomo. The original building dates from the 7th century and was built on the site of the Temple of Athene. Reconstructed after an earthquake in 1693, with the impressive Baroque façade added in 1728.

Holiday Accommodation in Siracusa

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The waterfront area along Foro Vittorio Emauele is where the Marina is located, a very popular area during the summer months. At the end of the promenade is the Fonte Aretusa, an elaborate fountain with a history dating back to the Greek occupation of the town, from where there are lovely views across the bay. Located at the furthest tip of the promontory is the Castello Maniace, a fortification built in the 13th century by Frederick II.

The rest of Siracusa is split into four main areas, Archradina, S.Lucia, Tyche and Neapolis. Two of the most significant archaeological sites are located in Neapolis, the Latomia del Paradiso is the site of a famous ancient quarry from where the Greeks excavated huge quantities of stone. Contained within the quarry is the Orecchio di Dionisio, translated as the “ear of Dionysius”, which is a huge cavern open to the public. The cavern has an opening that is 23m high and extends 65m into the rock. The cavern was named by Caravaggio in the 16th century based on its shape, but it also has remarkable acoustic properties. The caverns were also used as prisons during the numerous battles conducted against the Athenians in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. The second significant archaeological site is the Greek Theatre, which is located immediately adjacent to the park surrounding the ancient quarry. At 138m in diameter, with 67 tiers split into 10 vertical blocks, it is one of the largest Greek theatres known. The first wooden theatre on the site dates from the 6th century BC, but it was enlarged and turned into a stone theatre in the 4th century BC. Further enlargements were then completed in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. Many of the great Greek playwrights, including Aeschylus, had their work performed at the Theatre, and the site is still used periodically by the National Institute of Ancient Drama.

The Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi is located within the Tyche area of Siracusa, and was built to house the huge quantities of archaeological remains found in southeastern Sicily. Opened to the public in 1988, the museum is split into three main sections. The ‘prehistory’ section covers the neolithic and Bronze Age periods, and includes pottery, rock carvings and bronze artefacts. The second section covers the Greek colonisation of Sicily, starting from the 8th century BC and includes numerous sculptures, statues and pottery, as well as finds from the Temples of Apollo and Athena. The last section deals with sub-colonies and Hellenised indigenous towns, and exhibits numerous artefacts found at Gela and Agrigento.

On the outskirts of Siracusa, to the west of the city, the remains of an ancient Greek fort can be found. Known as the Castello Eurialo, the site dates from the 4th century BC and was built following the Athenian siege of the city. The fort occupied the highest point of the plateau of Epipolae and was responsible for protecting the western approaches to Siracusa.

For those visitors to Siracusa who are happy to spend their time on the beach, the area offers extensive coastline where both public and private beaches can be found. The coastline to the north of the city is now very industrialised, so the best beaches are to be found to the south. The beaches of Fontane Bianche, Ognina, Arenella, L’isola, Plemmirio all offer excellent swimming and other water sports and there is generally a large number of private villas available for holiday rental.

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