Ortigia Island, Syracuse, Sicily

Traveling to Syracuse by train from Scaletta Zanclea, we enjoyed an overnight stay on the Island Ortigia which connects to the mainland via a series of bridges. Ortigia is the historical centre of Syracuse and holds many of the city's oldest landmarks. It houses Jewish and Arab/Spanish Quarters reflecting the influence of each culture and is the birth and death place of Archimedes.
The Baroque-style façade of the Cathedral of Syracuse (il duomo) is a real highlight and undoubtedly the most beautiful church we've seen in Sicily. It's structure is originally a Greek temple (Doric order) and therefore it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Temple of Apollo is one of the most important ancient Greek monuments in the Greek speaking area of southern Italy. We stayed near the Piazza Archimedes which features an impressive fountain, cafes and general meeting place.
The harbour offers boats, of varying sizes, protection and a few beach areas for those brave enough to swim in the cold water. The Fonte Aretusa promenade is the seafront promenade, where we sat to enjoy a sunset cocktail.
The Fountain of Arethusa is a natural fresh water spring in Ortigia, located right beside the port. At the far end of the island is a citadel and castle, Castello Maniace, dating back to the 13th century. We also saw the oldest Catholic church in Sicily, built in 326AD.Read more