Syracuse

Syracuse, former capital of the Magna Graecia and the most ancient and magnificent of all Mediterranean cities, owes its unique charm to the succession of invading civilisations that have conquered it. It is a true melting pot of ancient Greek, Roman, Arabic, Norman, Byzantine and Spanish cultures and combines all their styles, tastes and scents.

In every corner of the city traces of these ancient civilisations can be seen. A visit to Syracuse is like a journey in time and through history. Added to which is the wonderful coastline and delightful surrounding countryside. You will have the chance to mix art, history, nature and fine food with the warm Sicilian hospitality.

Why Syracuse

• Interesting old town surrounded by the sea
• Ancient Roman & Greek ruins
• Nice beaches nearby

More about Syracuse

Siracusa, known to English speakers as Syracuse, is a wonder to behold. One of the great ancient capitals of Western civilization, the city was founded in 734 BC by Greek colonists from Corinth and soon grew to rival, and even surpass, Athens in splendor and power (300,000 inhabitants). Siracusa became the largest, wealthiest city-state in the West and a bulwark of Greek civilization. Although the city lived under tyranny, rulers such as Dionysus filled their courts with Greeks of the highest artistic stature-among them Pindar, Aeschylus, and Archimedes. The Athenians did not welcome the rise of Siracusa and set out to conquer Sicily, but the natives outsmarted them in what was one of the greatest naval battles of ancient history (413 BC). Siracusa continued to prosper until it was conquered two centuries later by the Romans.

Siracusa still has some of the finest examples of baroque art and architecture; dramatic Greek and Roman ruins; and a Duomo that combines a microcosm of the city's entire history in one building. The modern city also has a wonderful lively baroque old town worthy of extensive exploration, pleasant piazzas, outdoor cafés and bars, and a wide assortment of excellent seafood. There are essentially two areas to explore in Syracuse: the Parco Archeologico, on the mainland; and the island of Ortygia, the ancient city first inhabited by the Greeks, which juts out into the Ionian Sea and is connected to the mainland by two bridges.

Within a few kilometers of Syracuse there are many opportunities for visiting white sandy beaches with crystal clear waters and the towns of Catania, Noto, Modica and Ragusa are all within easy excursion distance