Siracusa Things to Do

4 more images

We buy wine by the litre from this local cantina.

Nero d'Avola: €1.80 / litre
Syrah: €2.00 / litre

small extra charge for a 2 litre new plastic bottle with seal or 5 litre bidone with seal or a wine sac.

The owner happily gives tours of the vineyards and talks about the wine production.

Sampling is available.

Wine can be and is shipped worldwide.

Quality extra virgin olive oil from the Monte Iblei available to buy in an oil box (like a wine box). This makes it easily transportable and packable.

4 more images

Open 0900 - 1300 (ticket must be bought 30 minutes before closing time)

Admission Price: €4
Reduction for 18-25 years: €2
Under 18 / Over 65 Free

Website for the Comune of Siracusa Tourism in Italian

4 more images

The Temple of Apollo is the oldest Greek temple in Sicily, and indeed the oldest Greek temple outside present-day Greece. It was built in the Doric style, dating from around 565 B.C. This temple is the first, in all Hellenic history, indexed and firmed by the model of peripetal temple with stone columns. The temple underwent several transformations: it was Byzantine church, from which is preserved the front staircase and traces of a Median door, and then became Arab mosque. Subsequently over it was built the Norman church of the Saviour, which then was incorporated into a 16th century Spanish barraks and in private buildings, of which some architectural elements still could be seen.
These subsequental overlappings severely damaged the original temple that was rediscovered in 1860 inside the barraks and was brought fully to light by the excavations performed by Paolo Orsi in the years between 1938 and 1942.
Of the original structure (58,10 x 24,50 m) that included 6 columns on the short sides and 17 on the long sides, only two columns were left standing on the south side, with part of .... and other columns on the same side and the side facing the east. On one of the steps on the east side is engraved inscription dedicated to Apollo, and you can also read the name of the architect, which is very rare for an Greek temple.

2 more images

There is small and well preserved chapel, right at the entrance to the Archaeological Park of Neapolis where theatres are situated, however, it is fenced in and inaccessable for visitings. It was built above the roman water reservoir which is visible right below the construction. The reservoir was connected by the channel to the amphiteatre and served for cleaning it. The construction of this tank covered a stretch of road that originally led into the Latomia of Paradise. In early Christian and Byzantine hypogean environment was used as a church, while in the more recent period (17th c.) was also a place burial hall.
The basilica is a Norman building and was erected in the 11th century, among the first to be built after the expulsion of the Arabs and the restoration of Christian faith. The church, which retains all the charm of the Norman severity, has a single nave with portaletto that opens on the side. In 1093 there was the funeral of Jordan, son of Roger de Hauteville.

4 more images

The Latomia or Gardens of Paradise were originally the immense quarries, both surface and especially underground. it is hard to establish an exact dating of "pietraje" (quarries), but it is likely that most of them are in use since 7th BC. According to the historians the quarries were also used as a place of restraint. Latomie served for the stones for construction of buildings, houses, monuments and street pavements.
During Byzantine times latomie served as underground burial places, and from which it draws the name "Street of Tombs" (in its walls have been excavated undergound burials).

3 more images

In Italian language "cordari" is expression for rope-makers. There are still covered so-called latomie, inside the Gardens of Paradise, which are actually the caves of cordari that for centuries, thanks to its length and the presence of water, hosted the manufacturers of ropes. The vault, inside the cave, is still supported by pillars left by the quarrymen of stones, and you can see huge blocks well squared hang from the ceilling like colossal stalactites.

3 more images

According to the legend, Alpheus, the son of Oceanus, fall medly in love with the nymph named Arethusa, but the nymph didn't share her feelings. In order to save the nymph, Artedimes turned her into a water source. Zeus also turned Alpheus into a river, allowing him to meet op with Arethusa.
The spring of Arethusa, which takes the form of large fountain and pool....

3 more images

Santa Lucia is the patron of Syracuse, she was martyred in 304 near the site of the church of that name, in Piazza Santa Lucia. Her feast day in December is a local holiday marked by a grand festival.
Located at the end of Piazza Duomo, the church was built during the Byzantine era of Syracuse and then reconstructed by the Normans during the 12th century. In the 17th century the church was completelly modified, almost beyond recognition.
Beneath the church are extensive catacombs. In its interiors the church houses Caravaggio's masterpiece "Burial of St. Lucy....