Things to Do and See in Syracuse

A city by the sea with ancient origins, Syracuse is the ideal starting point for exploring the province of the same name. Stretching out into the sea with the island of Ortigia, the city is rich in historical traces of the peoples who ruled it in the past, beginning with its founding in the 8th century B.C. by Greek colonists from Corinth, and later coming under other dominations such as the Roman, Arab, Byzantine, and Norman rule. In the city’s historic center, in fact, stand the imposing ruins of the Temple of Apollo and Artemis; built in the 7th century B.C., it is the oldest Doric temple in Sicily. As for the Cathedral, built during the Byzantine era but severely damaged by the 1693 earthquake, it represents an exceptional example of the layering of different styles that blend perfectly together. In the rest of the province, we recommend a visit to Pantalica, nestled amid history and nature thanks to the Anapo Valley Nature Reserve; situated on a promontory overlooking the Asinaro Valley, while Noto—the cradle of Sicilian Baroque and a UNESCO World Heritage Site—is home to the Cathedral, three 19th-century palaces, the Bishop’s Palace, the Lanolina, the Ducezio, and the monumental Santissimo Salvatore complex, which includes the monastery, the basilica, and the seminary. Finally, it’s worth visiting Palazzolo Acreide, another cradle of Sicilian Baroque in the Val di Noto.