Syracuse (Italy)

Syracuse (Italian: Siracusa, Sicilian: Sarausa or Seragusa) is a city of 122,000 people (2017) on the eastern coast of Sicily. The city has a rich Greek and Roman history, culture, amphitheatres, and architecture. Syracuse is a good base for exploring south-east Sicily, including the Baroque towns of Ragusa and Noto, several archaeological sites, and the lively city of Catania. "Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica" have been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Understand
Syracuse was an important centre in the Grecian period. Roman writer Cicero described it as "the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all". Master mathematician Archimedes lived and worked here, but was killed during the Roman conquest. There are many places of interest, most of them in two areas: the island of Ortigia (Ortygia) reflects the early modern or baroque period. Neapolis, the "new town", is older by about 2000 years.

The Tourist Information Centre is within the Provincial Government building at 31 Via Roma on Ortigia island.

By plane
Catania-Fontanarossa airport is 50 km north of Syracuse. Inter-city buses between Catania and Syracuse all call at the airport, journey time is just over an hour. Otherwise, take a bus or taxi from the airport to Catania railway station, from where there are frequent trains to Syracuse.

Ragusa airport (Aeroporto di Comiso "Pio La Torre") is closer but has fewer flights, and no onward public transport.

By bus


Some regional buses (Interbus, etc.) make a number of stops in the city, so check with their website if one of them would be more suitable. Tickets for this particular buses can also be bought on board.

By train
Direct trains run along the coast from Messina eight times a day (2 hr 30 min), via Taormina-Giardini and Catania.

There are two or three direct trains daily from Rome (11 hours) via Naples (9 hours) and the Straits ferry.

There are five train connections a day from Palermo via Enna and Catania (4 hr 30 min). Connections via Messina take 7 hours.

Six regional trains run M-Sa via Noto, Pozzallo (one hour; for the ferry to Malta), Modica and Ragusa (two hours) to Gela. No Sunday service.



On foot
The city is easy to visit on foot. There are two areas of interest, both 20 min walk from the station. Southeast is the island of Ortigia, the oldest part of the city; north is Neapolis, the archaeological area.

By bus
The most useful bus lines for visitors are the little electric navettes that ply the centre and areas of interest, run by



By car
The entire Ortigia island is a limited traffic zone (ZTL) (map and hours). Most vehicles are prohibited from accessing it at night and on Sundays and holidays.

Isola di Ortigia
Ortigia island is the oldest part of Syracuse. It's connected to the rest of the city by two bridges. Boat trips leave from the channel here.


 * The midpoint of Ortigia is Piazza Archimedes, honoring the famous citizen who lived and worked here circa 287-212 BCE. His brilliance lay in combining pure mathematical reasoning (e.g. anticipating calculus, and deriving an accurate estimate of pi) with practical innovative engineering (e.g. the water screw, and compound pulley). Centre of the piazza is an ornate "Fountain of Diana", built in 1907. Classicists don't believe the story that Archimedes leapt from his bath and ran naked crying "Eureka!" - but if, through the suds and steam, he'd beheld this bathful of sea monsters, gigantic buxom women, and wild horses, how else could he have reacted?
 * The midpoint of Ortigia is Piazza Archimedes, honoring the famous citizen who lived and worked here circa 287-212 BCE. His brilliance lay in combining pure mathematical reasoning (e.g. anticipating calculus, and deriving an accurate estimate of pi) with practical innovative engineering (e.g. the water screw, and compound pulley). Centre of the piazza is an ornate "Fountain of Diana", built in 1907. Classicists don't believe the story that Archimedes leapt from his bath and ran naked crying "Eureka!" - but if, through the suds and steam, he'd beheld this bathful of sea monsters, gigantic buxom women, and wild horses, how else could he have reacted?
 * The midpoint of Ortigia is Piazza Archimedes, honoring the famous citizen who lived and worked here circa 287-212 BCE. His brilliance lay in combining pure mathematical reasoning (e.g. anticipating calculus, and deriving an accurate estimate of pi) with practical innovative engineering (e.g. the water screw, and compound pulley). Centre of the piazza is an ornate "Fountain of Diana", built in 1907. Classicists don't believe the story that Archimedes leapt from his bath and ran naked crying "Eureka!" - but if, through the suds and steam, he'd beheld this bathful of sea monsters, gigantic buxom women, and wild horses, how else could he have reacted?
 * The midpoint of Ortigia is Piazza Archimedes, honoring the famous citizen who lived and worked here circa 287-212 BCE. His brilliance lay in combining pure mathematical reasoning (e.g. anticipating calculus, and deriving an accurate estimate of pi) with practical innovative engineering (e.g. the water screw, and compound pulley). Centre of the piazza is an ornate "Fountain of Diana", built in 1907. Classicists don't believe the story that Archimedes leapt from his bath and ran naked crying "Eureka!" - but if, through the suds and steam, he'd beheld this bathful of sea monsters, gigantic buxom women, and wild horses, how else could he have reacted?

Neapolis
Syracuse was founded around 734 BC, but there was a second wave of construction from 485 BC in this area: hence its Greek name Νεάπολη - "Neapoli" or "New City". The sights are all contained within the

Other sites




Do
Syracuse is an amazing city of culture and history ready to be explored and savored. Activities that can be organized include culture & language classes, Sicilian cooking classes & wine tasting, outdoor excursions (hiking, cycling, climbing, sailing, scuba diving), excursions all over the island, workshops (Sicilian puppet making, ceramics, photography, painting).



Cycling

 * Nolo Point, Gazebo Pz Pncali, tel: +39 348 9506338. Rents out electrical bicycles, scooters, canoes, campers etc.
 * Nolo Point, Gazebo Pz Pncali, tel: +39 348 9506338. Rents out electrical bicycles, scooters, canoes, campers etc.

Events

 * Festival of Santa Lucia: Takes place on December 13. A solid silver statue of the patron saint is carried to Basilica del Sepolcro where it remains for eight days.
 * Theatrical Season at the Greek Theatre: Goes from May to July. Throughout these months, they stage dramas by famous authors such as Aeschylus and Euripides.
 * Steam and other historic trains run along the local railways on occasion from Syracuse to Ispica and Ragusa. The one-day, roundtrip ticket costs €20 adult, €10 child 4-12, free under 4 (Sep 2019).

Buy
One of the most popular craft products in Syracuse is papyrus paper. Local pottery is also a common product to buy. If you are looking for the perfect gift, buy a bottle of Nero d'Avola or a jar of their famous fish preserves.


 * Every Sunday a large outdoor market (mostly clothes, souvenirs and some food) takes place on Piazza S. Lucia on the mainland.
 * Every Sunday a large outdoor market (mostly clothes, souvenirs and some food) takes place on Piazza S. Lucia on the mainland.

Drink
There are many night clubs along the coastline on the Alfeo Promenade. Some have dance floors on the beach so that you can dance under the moonlight.

Budget
Most cheap hotels are located around the railway station; more around the post office and east of Apollo temple.

Mid-range
In the centre:



Further out:



Cope
A laundry service:



Go next

 * Inland are the eight "Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto" UNESCO world heritage sites: shattered by the earthquake of 1693, they were all re-built in a unity of baroque style. Ragusa and Modica are the most substantial, and can be done as day-trips by public transport but deserve a longer stay.
 * Inland are the eight "Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto" UNESCO world heritage sites: shattered by the earthquake of 1693, they were all re-built in a unity of baroque style. Ragusa and Modica are the most substantial, and can be done as day-trips by public transport but deserve a longer stay.
 * Inland are the eight "Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto" UNESCO world heritage sites: shattered by the earthquake of 1693, they were all re-built in a unity of baroque style. Ragusa and Modica are the most substantial, and can be done as day-trips by public transport but deserve a longer stay.