Ortygia Syracuse's Ancient Town Center Walking Tour

Ortygia Syracuse's Ancient Town Center Walking Tour

This private walking tour explores Ortygia, the old town center of Syracuse, which is placed on a small island. It is enchanting for its position and fascinating for its 3000 years of history. From Apollo temple, the oldest Greek temple in Sicily, the way leads through picturesque narrow streets to Cathedral Square, where there is the possibility to visit the Catholic church built above an ancient pagan temple. After you will admire the enchanting Fountain of Aretusa near the sea, walk through the less beaten paths of the Jewish Quarter and enjoy southern lifestyle and the colors of the local fish and fruit market.

The private walking tour lasts about 2 hours and crosses the picturesque streets of the old part of Syracuse discovering the traces left by all the different people who governed Sicily. You will meet our guide at the ancient Greek Apollo Temple where he will give you a short introduction about the history of the town. After a short walk you will reach Cathedral Square and be surprised by the magnificent bright limestone buildings: the town hall, Palazzo Beneventano, the bishop's palace and St. Lucy's Church, but most of all the Cathedral itself, the only church still in use today which time ago was a pagan temple. You should not miss to visit its interiors (optional visit, admission ticket not included).

The tour then continues to Aretusa Fountain near the sea. The myth of Aretusa was told by Ovidius and in its clear fresh water grows papyrus which probably was brought here when Archimedes lived in town. The way back leads through the Jewish Quarter to Via Maestranza, the street where the nobility of the town had their pompous homes. On Archimedes Square, the neoclassical Fountain of Diana remembers once more the glorious past of Syracuse. The tour will end at the local fish and fruit market where you can take a breath of local life, colors and scents. Please note that the market is open only in the morning and on working days.