• Italy: Ciao Bella
    To the left of here is Ortigia Island ... to the right mainland Siracusa.
    Temple of Apollo: oldest doric colonnaded stone temple in Sicily (6th century BCE).Temple of Apollo: served as a Byzantine church, Arab mosque, Norman church, & Spanish barracks.Scenes from around the Temple of Apollo — Ortigia, Siracusa.To the left of here is Ortigia Island ... to the right mainland Siracusa.Ponte Umbertino (19th century); historic stone-arched bridge named for King Umberto I.1Archimedes: Greek scientist (287-212 BCE) from Siracusa; on the platform is the word "Eureka."Largo Porta Marina ... the historic entry point onto Ortigia Island.Elmo di Archia (S. Pennacchio); honors Corinthian founder of 1st Greek settlement here; 734 BCE.Foro Vittorio Emanuele II ... waterfront promenade near Lungo Porta Marina — Ortigia Island.Tree shaded promenade along Foro Vittorio Emanuele II.2Coat of arms along Foro Vittorio Emanuele II; (right) helmeted knight not an astronaut!1Fontana degli Schiavi (Slaves Fountain); slaves from Maltese galleys came here for water.Giardino Arethusa is shaded by giant banyan/fig trees — Ortigia Island.This sandy beach has a lot of small fish schooling near the shoreline — Ortigia Island.Along the waterfront promenade — Ortigia Island.At the far end of the promenade is Castello Maniace — Ortigia Island.Fountain of Arethusa is a natural spring; emblematic landmark included in the UNESCO WHS listing.Muscovy Duck @ Arethusa Fountain — Ortigia Island.Mural of historic Ortigia Island perimeter at a restaurant on Lungomare Alfeo.Time for a coffee and lemonade break on Lungomare Alfeo — Ortigia Island.View from Lungomare Alfeo — Ortigia Island.1Streetscape of a side street off Lungomare Alfeo — Ortigia Island.View of Ortigia from the promenade on the other side of the island.Ortigia IslandCrystal clear water along Lungomare Ortigia.These humanoid stencils are an art installation that has become a signature of the rocky beachfront.Streetscape ... side street on the waterfront promenade — Ortigia Island.Streetscape ... side street on the waterfront promenade — Ortigia Island.Limoncello & Campari spritz as pre-lunch aperitivi @ Colapesce on Lungomare Ortigia.Lunch @ Colapesce on Lungomare Ortigia.Cala Rossa beach on Lungomare Ortigia ... Mui's swim spot.Taking a dip at Cala Rossa Beach on Ortigia Island.Taking a dip at Cala Rossa Beach ... let's hope the slippers don't go for a swim, too!Another swim beach off Lungomare Ortigia.2Solarium Forte Vigliena has a bathing platform for easier swim access ... Mui might try it tomorrow!View from Lungomare Ortigia.View from Lungomare Ortigia ... with mainland Siracusa in the distance.2Streetscape from a street branching off from Lungomare Ortigia.Critters at the Temple of Apollo when we return to our starting point at the end of the day.Sunset from our balcony with the Fountain of Diana at the end of the street.

    Siracusa: L’Isola di Ortigia Loop

    October 12 in Italy ☁️ 73 °F

    Hah! Whoever said you can loop around Ortigia Island in an hour — maybe a little longer with stops — obviously doesn’t know us.

    Starting at Tempio di Apollo at 10:25a, we finished back where we started at 4:25p. Why hurry on such a beautiful day … though it was downright hot in the sun, so we sought shade where we found it. Of course, our six-hour trek included exploring the castello and having lunch along the way.

    I’ll leave the castello to the next footprint and let this one focus on everything else. No need for too many words to tell the story of our loop wander around the perimeter of the island.    Read more