Ortigia, Sicily
Visit Ortigia
Ortigia is the historical part of Syracuse and stands on a peninsula to the south of the more modern city. More than 2400 years ago Ortigia formed the centre of the most important Greek city in the entire nation, and apparently at that time it was almost the most impressive.
As you can see from the aerial photo, Ortigia is reasonably compact and easy to explore.
This part of the town includes a great deal of important baroque architecture constructed during the 17th and 18th centuries, and various other places of interest..
The Piazzo del Duomo is the central point of the city, and features the Syracuse Cathedral (duomo), the most important monument here in Ortigia - the cathedral facade was built in the 18th century in front of a 5th century temple (the Temple of Athena).
In Ortigia you can also see the oldest Doric temple to be found anywhere in Sicily at the Temple of Apollo.
Other highlights include the impressive baroque architecture of the Palazzo Beneventano del Bosco across the square from the cathedral); the Basilica of Santa Lucia; the 13th century Maniace Castle; the Lacrime Church, the Spring of Arethusa and the catacombs of San Giovanni.
You can also see the tomb which is thought to be that of Archimedes, the great physicist and mathematician who called Syracuse his home, and lived and died in Ortigia.