Beautiful island with ancient and authentic atmosphere. Amazing coastline, cousy little restaurants and wine bars. Almost no tourists during winter.

Beautiful place. Went in the evening for a stroll and to dine. Many restaurants in the area and walking is easy and relaxed.

Fabulous place to visit! Great sights and shops! Nice restaurants on the water front!

The island of Ortigia is known all over the world for its unique beauty. In fact, we were speechless in front of the charm of this land, surrounded by a beautiful crystalline sea and full of characteristic streets, places, monuments and many churches, all to visit. Unfortunately, we cannot make you feel its scents all around, both those of the vegetation and those that came from the clear waters that surround Ortigia. A MUST not to be missed during a trip in Sicily. 🥰🌊🌹🌸🌺💒🏘

One of the most beautiful old cities in Italy. Architecture, Art, atmosphere, cafe's, restaurants, artisanal shops, sea, port and boats. I could go on. You have to experience this, you will not regret it, nor forget it. 👌

Beatiful historical part of Siracusa. One of my favourite place in Sicily. I would walk hours and hours through that pictoresque baroque streets. On every step you can find something interesting. Plenty of restaurants, caffes, artisan shops everywhere. Duomo is beautiful. But the most magical part is watching the sunset on promenade. I love Ortigia especially becuase it wasn't so touristy as Taormina and allowing you to relax.

Fell in love with Ortigia. What a magical place. It must be unimaginably hot in summer, but at the end of October it was perfect. Huge eating options, markers are fantastic and just strolling the town is really great.

Good place to walk around, has cafes and shops.

Isola di Ortigia in Siracusa is a charming escape, where historical allure meets Mediterranean tranquility. Stroll through the picturesque streets, lined with Baroque architecture, and discover the lively markets showcasing local crafts and delicacies. The iconic Cathedral of Siracusa, a majestic amalgamation of various architectural styles, stands as a must-visit landmark. Take a leisurely walk along the waterfront promenade, enjoying panoramic views of the Ionian Sea. Indulge in the island's culinary delights at seaside trattorias. Isola di Ortigia offers a delightful blend of history, culture, and culinary delights, making it a captivating destination for those seeking an authentic Sicilian experience.

Beautiful place. We drove here and found parking quite near the bridges before entering Ortiga. Quite busy with tourists but experience enjoyable.

Ortigia island is such a beautiful place just outside main land Siracusa. The whole island is well kept and very enjoyable. The people are lovely and kind and they are doing they best if you don’t speak italian. The restaurants and food are exceptional and you will eat good in most of the places. Entry tickets for museum or churches are quite cheap and worth the visit. It is one of the best places in south Italy and needs to be visited once in a lifetime!

Among the most beautiful places in the world! Parking spots are scarce. Drive carefully, streets are very narrow.Really reasonable prices at restaurants and street food spots.

So pretty! Such great history! So many crowds of rowdy children …. I’d love to come back during a quieter time to better enjoy the beautiful side streets .

A bit touristy but very nice part of eastern Sicily. Lovely views in the town and around the coast, Piazza Duomo is very picturesque and whole area has a delightful ambience. There should be no difficulty in getting great food here and huge variety in restaurants, cafes etc. Not overly expensive, much better value than Taormina.

It’s very famous and also it’s history is very interesting which combines the Greek and Roman architect styles, it’s built BC and lasts till AD. It’s not very fancy and “wow” inside. The silver statue only goes out showing the public twice a year and actually no chance u will see it any other days of the year. There’s a miniature and video tho. Entrance fee 2€.

Lovely Cathedral in Ortega island Syracuse. We were lucky and arrived just as a military wedding was leaving the church. Exit was carried out in great style and the Piazza Duomo is one of the prettiest in Italy. Cathedral is very interesting as it is built on a pre christian Greek temple and makes use of the original ionic or doric columns, very large and cut from a single piece of stone

Breathtaking architecture, beautiful building built on the site of an ancient temple of Athena (you can still see the Doric columns from that era inside!). Stunning work, definitely worth visiting in Ortigia.

Located in a big square, this famous church looks beautifull and magnificent. You can sit in near bar and watch the crowds how they admire it.

What a unique and wonderful place! The architecture is a wonderful mix of styles from the past two millennia. A must see for history enthusiasts. Elements of an ancient Greek temple, byzantine conversion, Norman occupation and baroque architecture along with the relics and frescos make this a must on any stop in Syracuse.

The cathedral is a stunning blend of pagan architecture and a Baroque Christian church. The cathedral incorporates the remains of the ancient Minerva Temple, which was erected on the remains of a sixth-century BC Athena temple. More information could be provided in English or the audio guide with qr code to scan. It is part of the unesco world heritage site, and 2€ entrance fee is acceptable.

Amazing experience, so special and humbling to walk around in a place with this much history. Absolutely worth the small admission fee of 2 euros. We visited on a fairly calm Wednesday in May and everything was pretty accessible, no waiting times.

It's worth visiting since you will find way more than the cathedral. The cost was €2 which I do believe to be fair given what you will get access to.

Syracuse Cathedral, located in the heart of the historic city of Syracuse in Sicily, is a magnificent religious landmark that captures the essence of the region's rich history and architectural splendor. Steeped in ancient charm, this grand cathedral stands as a testament to the city's cultural and religious heritage. The interior of the cathedral is equally captivating, with intricate frescoes, ornate sculptures, and stunning stained glass windows that bathe the space in a warm, ethereal glow. The attention to detail and craftsmanship displayed in the artwork and decorations is truly remarkable, reflecting the dedication and skill of the artists who contributed to its creation.

We were here during the working week, the entrance fee to the cathedral is symbolic, it is worth going inside to see the impressive creation.

Don’t waste your time to see theater while spending 13€. It’s covered by a new stage, lights, benches … for performances that taking place. So you can’t really see how it really looks like. Be careful, staff doesn’t inform you about this.

A disappointing joke of an attraction. These people are scammers. They have increased their prices to €13 and you don’t even see the Greek theatre which is supposed to be the main attraction. Instead you see the site which is covered by a wooden frame for seating because they host events. This was not told to us before we paid for our ticket. Not to mention all of the signage around the site is useless and unreadable. There should be well kept signs for people to read the history. It’s a wonder where the money from ticket sales goes because it’s certainly not to the upkeep of this sad excuse for a famous attraction. Do not waste your time and money, avoid this scam!!!

Amazing site of the ancient Greek Theater with a great view as the backdrop. We found some small caves at the back of the theatre and wondering what they were for.

Beautiful manmade theater! Up to 18000 people witnessed grekk tragedies here. It's open in summers for modern versions of the ancient tradegies and concerts. Beautiful. Highly recommended to get a tour guide to take you through it all. Love how nature has taken over a lot of this area with trees and fruits.

Beautifull theatre. It brings us back in time. We watched Ulisses, the last Odyssey and it was fabulous and magical! Great experience which I advise everyone to try atleast once in their life!

Wonderful ancient theatre! It’s like a big parc with ruins to visit and with magnificent vegetation. We had a great couple of hours there during our last day in the city.

A must to visit. Make sure you have good walking shoes and a waterbottle. There are taps to refresh yourself. Three walks you can choose to walk... short , not so short and one that you can see everything there. We took the long one and it really is not that hard to do.

Probably the worst managed site of Roman and Greek antiquity I’ve ever visited. The signposting is confusing, there are no explanatory boards, the Greek theatre looks like a building site and is covered with building materials and plain ugly, staff is lacklustre, and there’s no good parking. It could be so much more than it is, if only the local authorities (or whoever is in charge here) put some effort into making the site the top attraction that it could be. It’s not worth the €16 entry fee at present.

It's more of a construction site, than an ancient theatre these days. You are not allowed to explore freely and if you ask me, because of the new instalments it has lost the charm it used to have (looking at the old pictures).

A lot of work is going on at the moment. But it is still a highlight to visit. Not just the theater itself but the whole park.

Very disappointing. This is Syracuse one of the great Greek cities. They have completely modernized the theater. You almost cannot tell its Greek. The amphitheater is half excavated. Go to the one in Taormina or Agrigento instead

Amazing place to visit. I would advise to get a guide as so much history

Great place, full of history. I found it to not be too tourists about for the midday. We managed to walk around in 2 hours. I recommend that go in the morning as the heat can be quite harsh with not much shade to cool down.

Teatro Greco is one of the oldest amphitheatres and surprisingly it in great condition. They still use the amphitheatre for shows throughout the year and it's something that needs to be visited if you're coming to Siracusa. Among the other sites this one tops the list. The entry to the site is reasonable as there are a few notable places to visit. If you're a teacher you get free entry however I'm not sure about whether this applies to international teachers.

We were surprised by the size of the ruins which include two amphitheaters and a huge stone quarry. The audiotour helped a lot and it was fun to have our capuccino of the day outside the ticket kiosk.

Very nice and large theater. When we were there, we couldn’t get on the “stage” area. Only around and on top. Looked really beautiful, but missing a lot of information signs on what they did there in the old times.

This place is really cool, we went without a tour guide so there were not any explanations. The thing that was annoying was the fact that the paths were limited and it felt that the closed paths had suc a great potential for seeing better and having a better understanding of what you can see. Overall if you love history it is a cool place to see. Getting a guide is mandatory if you don't know too much about the history of the place.

Eur$13 at entrance but half of the park is closed and couldnt see Necropolis, it is worth it as a piece of history nice 1h walk easy parking eur $1.5 at entrance. Ear of Dionisus a man made Cave was impressive!

Neapolis is an open air museum. It is very well kept. If you are into history you must visit! It took us around 2 hours to complete the full tour. We paid 16.50 euro each.

Beautiful caves made by prisoners looking for good stones for construction at the time of the roman empire

Nice place to visit however a lot of tourist routes within the site were closed for some reason :/

The Ear of Dionysius is a remarkable archaeological marvel in Syracuse, known for its unique ear-like shape and extraordinary acoustics. This limestone cave, carved out of the Temenites hill, is steeped in history and legend, offering visitors a glimpse into the past. A must-visit for those interested in the intriguing blend of natural beauty and historical mythology.

We were able to have the cave all to our self for a few minutes. It is really cool to hear the natural sounds of the birds overhead.

Ear of Dionysius is a nice place, but people are really loud there as they’re trying the echo. So it would be better to avoid the guided yours or school excursions.

It’s an impressive limestone cave that resembles the shape of a human ear, hence its name. Stepping inside this natural wonder, visitors are immediately struck by its extraordinary acoustics. The cave's structure amplifies sound, allowing even the faintest whispers to be heard with remarkable clarity. This acoustic phenomenon has captivated visitors for centuries and adds an element of intrigue to the site.

An eternal reminiscence of the ancient world of heroes, poets and gods embellished by the natural and mighty wilderness of Nature.

Sicily is full of beautiful landscape and thin one in particular is a real immersion in nature and history. It was one of my best experiences!

I gave it 4 stars for this objective in particular but the overall archeological area is amazing and great to walk around. This S-shape entry is very tall and a bit gloomy toward its end. There is no light installed and a mobile phone torch barely makes a difference. So bring in a flashlight if you are curious. The acoustic is normal in my opinion. I've observed better acoustics in caves.

We came in January 2024 and it was not busy so we could take our time with the sites. A few tracks were either closed for maintenance/ restoration works so it made it difficult to give 5 stars as we couldn't see everything. We are English speakers and felt the information provided was sufficient. Cost was reasonable and if you're a teacher (local in Italy) you get free entry. Not sure whether the same applies to international teachers.

It's really great to see the history... but for some reason, they have put very weird colored sculptures in the site. Looks tacky and really takes away from the natural beauty. It was hard to take a great picture while trying to avoid them.... very weird indeed

An acoustic marvel. Used not only as a sister but as a prison. This is part of a quarry had a roof on its up until the sixteen forties when an earthquake caused it to collapse. In this fashion the workers could work in the shade and in the coolness of the quarry itself. If you come to Sicily this is a must see. It is an archeological wonder there are Greek and Roman theaters here Greek amphitheater's, Roman arenas. The columns that you see in the photographs were what supported the roof...

Nice walk trail. I felt save walking around in this stunning place

Very cool cave. Do not expect what you saw in Indiana Jones. They took a LOT of liberties with the movie for cinematic effect and the real thing is quite different. But it is still worth the visit!

We visited this park in January and there was few visitors there. We was a little bit disappointed that some of the sights and paths were closed. We had a good time anyway and the attractions are well worth the ticket price. Some more information boards would be welcomed so we could easily understand what the different sights were.

This has a lot of potential but is let down by some poor organisation and a lack of appreciation of what it is. The Main sites are worth seeing but so many routes and places are still blocked but the maps are not updated. As others have noted the Roman Amphitheater is being covered by boards and converted to a concert venue which really should not be allowed and would not almost anywhere else. It will impact long term on tourism which is short sighted to exploit it for a few Euros now. We found the staff friendly and helpful and it is worth a visit but could be so much better.

It's pretty visiting, but it's not worth paying so much just to entry and take a look around. The theater was completely renewed, you couldn't really see the old stairs. The amphitheatre was just ruins and the best thing were the caves. Its not easy navigating the ways since there are too many and the signs are rather confusing.

It's ok, and its reasonably priced. The best bit is the old saltpeter quarry you can walk into, sounds underwhelming but it's honestly interesting and looks awesome. Then theres the old Greek theatre, which is still used and unfortunately modern wooden seats have been fitted over the original stonework so you cant see it. However the Roman theatre down the hill a bit is much better to look at. Main issue was the long queue at the ticket office in the car park was not moving, so we bought tickets online which we then told were invalid unless we went to the ticket office anyway, so that was a waste of time, luckily there was another ticket office inside the entrance gate which had a much shorter queue, even so, it was not clear where to get a ticket and it was a slow frustrating process just trying to get into the site.

One of the worst spending of time and money I had. First, it has almost none benches and shadows. It's impossible to find a place to rest at least a bit, and visit in sunny day becomes a hell. Second, very few toilets with long ques. Third, routes organisation is horrible. You should walk in circles to visit different places, while the straight way will be closed and a special security will be standing to make sure that you go the long way. And finally, I think it is overpriced. You see to little for too much money. Especially during my visit, the Greek theatre was blocked by some festival, but they didn't even bother to make price cheaper. In short, I don't recommend to visit the place.

The site is truly breathtaking, featuring two of the most exquisite amphitheaters from Greek and Roman times. The addition installation of the modern sculptures tastefully done, enhancing the historical ambiance. However, the signage could be improved as it is not very clear. More directional signs for visitors would be highly beneficial.

Beautiful park, great for a morning/afternoon walk to soak up a little bit of culture while in Ortigia. I think April is the perfect time to visit: the entire park is green, and filled with flowers and the amazing smell of orange blossom. You can easily spend a few hours in the park, exploring the different sites. The Roman theatre and the Ear of Dyonisis were my favorites. Unfortunately the Greek theatre was being worked on (looked like preparations for a concert), which was a bit of a bummer.

Beautiful place, with plenty of things to see! It took us around 4 good hours to explore the whole area! Bring suitable shoes and water! Worth a visit for 15€. Bear in mind that you will need a map because the park is huge!

This extremely important archaeological site could be amazing, but unfortunately many areas are in rough shape, roped off, overgrown with weeds, and otherwise unable to be seen by the public. The 2,500 year old Greek Theater that serves as the MAIN draw for this park was very disappointing, as it was almost completely covered by modern seating structures that killed the entire beauty of this sacred ancient theater. It would have been better to stage current theatrical events at the less important Roman Theater, which was also overgrown with vegetation and to leave the Greek Theater alone and in a more pure state. Or they could at least reduce the admission price when the theater is covered. The caves were probably the most interesting aspects of this park. Don’t skip those!! Very fascinating. Overall it’s still worth visiting, but in its current state I can only give it 3 stars. I truly hope they improve this important Archaeological site, clean up the overgrown vegetation, improve and replace the damaged and faded signs, and bring it to its fullest potential!

Masterful and impressive works but rather pitiful presentation. The paths were not marked consistently, so that one gets lost almost by default. For the Roman amphitheatre there are two entrances, but you are not allowed to visit everything when using the one at the café. The Greek theatre is covered almost completely by modern technical equipment and in general there are little to no information panels. When I visited a third of the park was not accessible at all, but I was not notified of it until I paid entrance and the path was blocked.

Really cool to visit, wish there were more explanations in terms of text, it feels like they are trying to get you to get a tour guide. The paths are limited and you can see the older paths were amazing. Overall if you love Greek and Roman history there is a lot to explore.

Great site to get the old Greek and Roman vibe. Theatre is incredible, but also the caves give an additional to the already wondefull preserved site. You will need at least a few hours to really experience its splendid. Parking can be a hassle, so advisable to be early.

Visited in late February, winter schedule. Very few tour groups, mostly teen-aged school groups, so park was pretty empty. Nice place for a walk, part can be accomplished for free before entering the two separate sides of the park. Each side can only be entered once, the machine will reject a second attempt. Needs a little more infrastructure maintenance and new and improved signs and maps. Staff is exceptional. Not all parts/walkways are open at this time. Street parking, €1.50 per hour, only one pay box by entry. Trick is to park illegally at pay box for a few minutes, get parking receipt then go park. App for parking would not accept me/my USA phone number.

I expected ancient ruins but find very modern wooden structure covering whole theatre. Many of the paths are closed, it's a real festival of barriers. Most of the green parts are seriously overgrown and very untidy. Ear of Dionysius and amphitheatre are the only structures worth the visit.

Park: 5/5 A really beautiful park - definitely worth a visit, when you are around Syracuse. I also loved the mixture of old stone buildings overgrown by plants. There is no litter and the landscape is just astonishing. Management: 3/5 Huge areas of the he park where not accessible when we were there (which is apparently often reported in the reviews) - but you still have to pay the full price - and there is no information about that. Also, there are mostly no signs or whatsoever about the structures and buildings, so if you don't like guided tours so much, you have to look everything up for yourself online. Also, there could be more shadow places to rest.

Would I recommend to a friend? No. Would I go again knowing what I know? No. As ruins go, I was very underwhelmed. The best thing about the caves was the cool temperatures and respite the provided from the heat. The old theater had bees completely redone in preparation for a concert so the main ruin was covered with new wooden seats. If you found my review helpful please let me know by giving me a thumbs up. Thanks.

Nice to see all those ancient remains. What I missed was some readable text at every point. They explain in 2 sentences a Roman arena of 2000 years old. That’s really too little. You can follow an audio tour, but I prefer readable tekst. Currently the so called burial place of archimedes is closed.

Again .. very disappointed with the administration of the place again employees they only speak Italian. They don’t speak any other language. They are disrespectful and they talk to you shouting not only that the place is their team the seen us. They are not well connected between each other so you have one entrance here and at the same time you have some exit the place was kind of dirty. They only have one toilet. They have this electric berry brand new stuff to get in, but they didn’t pay attention to take care of how clean is the place really didn’t feel comfortable in the place outside of the place it’s also very dirty. The place is actually not worth it. I think you can from better places inside of the city so there’s no point to go so far I think the price is too high. I don’t think administration is doing a proper job on the M Pl. is too little to charge that amount of money again increase you found better places more cheap it more carefully taking care of more clean and more big so again it’s not worth it definitely is. They are not doing a good job they supposed to promote history and they’re supposed to hire people who at least can’t take care of the tourist speaking other language which is important now and there’s something if you don’t know it’s Khaled Google translate that they can use but they just decided not to talk to you just turn the face on. This is what they are doing.z definitely I recommend go to Greece 🙌🏻

It was a great afternoon out but they should provide more signposts, found ourselves looping back a few times. It was extremely busy and we were sometimes completely blocked by what I assume to be 3 coaches full of people on a single tour.. If you are coming in summer, bring plenty of water. there isn't much shade.

Organized and preserved park. Theater is mostly in tact, the grottos are nice, and the Roman arena is interesting. I liked the cave and the history of where the slaves lived and worked. Interesting how they carved the blocks. Enjoyed the park. Clean restrooms.

Expensive at €16, many tour/school groups (Monday in April), many areas closed, no explanations unless you can download brochure with mobile phone, 3/4 toilet blocks not working. I love archaeological sites but wish I had spent my entry fee on a nice lunch instead.

I think these super negative reviews are ridiculous. 🤦🏽‍♀️ I have been to a LOT of archeological parks around the world and yes, many are much better in terms of signage and placard explanations but it’s not as if this park has NOTHING in that regard! There ARE Italian/English placards with albeit minimal info at each site entry. And some extra placards around the Roman theatre. The downloadable pamphlet gives a few more info tidbits for each site. Yes, there are sites closed off, which in that regard a ticket should absolutely NOT cost as much as it does at €12.50. But you DO see the most important sites of the Ear of Dionysus (of which the landscape is a pleasure to stroll around), which is fantastic and the adjacent Salt Caves. The Roman Theatre is not spectacular but definitely worth a view. The Greek Theatre is 💯 disappointing as it’s full of workers and construction preparing for the summer season. I also dinked a star bc of the audacity to charge for loos when tickets are already too much! A combo ticket with the museum is an eye-watering €22. I decided to bite the bullet and do so and I’m glad I did bc I enjoyed my time in the museum. Also, I loved the modern art sculptures at the sites and especially the blue heads in the Salt Caves. Great punch of colour.

The place is great but not good maintained. You could actually see amazing things. Entry is 13 euro but you still need to pay 1 euro for the WC although the doors do not close and there is not a single mirror on a wall. Not clean either. The parc itself is very large but you need to find out on your own where to start, where to go next and where to exit. Tall grass is hiding the view, signs are not readable anymore. You have staff standing on every corner, so you can just give them a tool in the hand to take care of the place. Practically the entry is to pay the security people, would be nice if they used it to maintain the place better. And to open a second front desk, so you don‘t keep the people waiting.

Beautiful park with great views and scenic paths. Only complaint is that a large section was closed, and it was not made clear online or at the entrance when we got tickets. (We don't speak/read Italian so possibly it was posted somewhere that was not obvious to tourists). The maps of the park are also very confusing - we ended up just walking and exploring without using it which was better for us.

Was not expecting that you could visit these extraordinary gorgeous caves at the quarry there. They were breathtaking and a welcome cool down from the heat of the sun. The scultural artworks were beautiful. The Greek theater was...devasting. They have decided to build over it with a wooden structure, I suppose to use it? What a misuse of an ancient site. Tragic. The Roman amphitheater is still presevred and fantastic to see. You can see the underground tunnel entrances etc. Parking was a bit stressful. Oh! And there were about 400 high school students visiting who were extremely loud and disrespectful but if we ran ahead of the group it was mostly enjoyable. Also was 33 euros for 2??? Why so expensive. Half of it was closed off.

We came in Easter, nothing was open and beach not yet cleaned properly. Perhaps nicer in the summer. Easy to reach by train from Siracusa.

Pretty nice beach, but a little dirty and food options are not the best. But still, on the south of the island it is worth going to

Great beach to chill. Very clear water with no weeds. You can get a drink or something to eat at the little restaurant just off the beach.

Nice, sandy beach, but as we visited it in February, there were lots and lots of palm tree rubbish just at the water front.

Ok beach but a lot of algae on the sand and in water which is not nice when swimming

The beach is stunning, with white sand and clear water. The food options are decent but not impressive, and the beach vendors can be a bit bothersome. In June, it cost 20€ to rent a sunbed with an umbrella.

Good beach, probably one of the warmest places to visit in October. Good bar on the beach, also they have toilet and showers.

Looks good but it is closed for walking onto. The beach is nice.

A brilliant beach with lovely fine sand and clear shallow water for swimming in. I went in October and it is not crowded even at the weekend. It gets the sun all day so is great to sit and enjoy the warm weather. There is a beach kiosk for drinks and food, with seating as well. This is by the small car park with direct access to the beach. If you want a lido with lounger and umbrella there is a place at one end that will provide these for a fee.

The beach is beautiful. Very nice fine sand. There is some seaweed, but it wasn’t an overwhelming amount.

The public part of this beach has a border of dark brown/black seaweed which prevents tiny children from accessing the sea to paddle. It is adjacent to private beaches which have no seaweed. How is this fair? The far end of the beach is also public and does not have the seaweed issue but it is a somewhat smaller area.

Practical info for other tourists! Out of the three main beaches, the northern litoral, Arenella, and Fonta Bianche, I would say that this would be the most preferred option. The beach is divided into a private and public access area. The private area is quite cheap for a couple (20 eur in total to rent 2 chairs with an umbrella on days except Sunday. I posted the price board below). The rent time runs from 9 am to 7 pm. The public area is not bad at all, and there is quite enough shore space, as you can see in the videos. The view is picturesque, with calm waves, and a lot of space. At the entrance of the free beach you can find a bar that can satisfy most of your necessities – drinks, ice cream, snacks and food, etc. There are also a few restaurant places, but here I would recommend only the pizzeria - la Capannina de Gino. The other places are rather pricey and, in my opinion, not a pleasant consumer experience. There are also people that walk around the shore selling miscellaneous beach items (umbrellas, hats, volleyballs, sunglasses,etc.) Best not buy anything unless really necessary. Nonetheless, the beach is free, pleasant, mostly clean, not loud, making it a nice choice for beach relaxation.

THINK TWICE BEFORE GOING: I paid €40 for an umbrella and two chairs located between the restaurant and the sea. After 2pm I had no place for sunbathing around me and they didn't allow to move my chair far from my umbrella! I requested to change my location to the manager but he said NO in a rude manner saying that all was sold (while he was assigning other locations to new people arriving so obviously he lied to me!) Apart from that, the also-rude-cleaner closed the toilet at 17:30 for 30 minutes because she wanted to clean alone.. so a queue of 10 of us waited outside at peak hour (when everybody leave the beach and want to use the toilet before long ride)!

Nearest beach to our resort hotel. Clean though Italy has a problem with cigarette butts that everyone thinks disappears. Sea has some weed but not overwhelming. Nice cafe, lends loungers and umbrellas

Lovely pool, full of fish and ducks. Plenty of cafes nearby with outdoor seating for a break while touring the island.

A must see location when visiting the city. Absolutely stunning during sunset. Free of charge and with plenty of seating nearby. No restrooms unless you work something out with a business nearby or eat there. Lots of overpriced places in the area part of the tourist trap, but worth catching the sunset with a spritz in hand and in the company of your partner or a good friend

Opened early in the morning until lunch. They reopen at 5pm for 2 hours or so. When I visited Ortigia it was raining all day, so unfortunately the gate were closed. Ticket entry fee - I cannot remember how much. Fresh water garden with ducks. There is a statue at the entrance. It is located on the promenade (sea front, south west of the island). No WC - Accessible to all.

Beautiful Spring along the coastline of Siracusa. It was a windy and wintery day when we went but it was worth it to see the landscape and marvel at another architectural and perfectly designed spring. Definitely take a detour here.

Beautiful view of the spring. The area immediately above the spring has a spiral painted on the pavement. The person responsible was a local and was famous amongst the math community. You can view the spiral if you click on the satellite view.

Beautiful to visit. There is not much to see of the fountain, but it is nice to see how the dam wall separates the freshwater from the sea. Around it plenty of cosy restaurants. Nice to walk to and enjoy the view.

A cute water spring with a real papyrus growing in the middle. It’s story goes back to the Ancient Greek myths. Ducks and geese live there. It’s a peaceful place for observing nature.

Beautiful, magical, mythical place where Arethusa was turned into a spring and her love, Alpheus, made his way to her beneath the sea. Wonderful!

It's a fantastic natural spring with lovely lights in the evening. I think it's worth it to visit in the evening because of its unexpected fresh green magic! I could imagine it's nice oases during the hot days in summer. Nearby there is a parking area, but not sure if it's paid during the day.

Would be very nice to visit, it was closed, but wonderful from up above, too.

Arethusa Spring in Siracusa, Sicily, is a captivating natural wonder steeped in mythology. Legend has it that the nymph Arethusa transformed into a spring to escape the river god Alpheus. Today, visitors marvel at its tranquil beauty and the lush vegetation that surrounds it, a testament to its timeless allure.

Arethusa Spring is unique because it is a freshwater spring that emerges very close to the coast, and its waters flow into the nearby Ionian Sea. The spring has historical importance and has been mentioned in ancient texts, including works by the Greek poet Theocritus. Visitors to Syracuse can explore Arethusa Spring, appreciate its natural beauty, and learn about the mythological tales associated with this enchanting location.

The ancient spring that provided water to inhabitants of Ortigia. According to Greek legend the nymph Arethusa hid on the Ortigia from Alfeo who was persistently in love of Arethusa. The Goddess Artemis turned Arethusa here in the spring. But Zeus was impressed by true love of Alfeo and turned him on the river. This river leaked in the sea to Ortigia and the water of young people has united forever.

Magical place in Ortigia. A fresh water spring by the sea gives shelter to a family of geese and fishes. Busy during peak hours therefore visit it during the early mornings or dinner time when there won’t be too many people around.

Actually pretty underwhelming. The LP guidebook definitely made it seem like this would be fanastic and it’s just… fine.

Superb fountain and so surprising to see the papyrus plant growing in the middle. Water is cristal clear and ducks are fishing in front of your eyes As you go around it, there’s a beautiful promenade towards the castle or back towards the harbour.

Nice museum with a lot of prehistoric, Greek and Roman displays, almost all found in the Sicily region. It would have been nicer if more English descriptions would have been available.

I came here as part of the eye-watering combo ticket price of €22 with the archeological park. The museum is massive in terms of how many artifacts it has, particularly in terms of rocks, prehistoric tools and pottery shards, moving into thousands and thousands of pottery and pottery pieces, tools, votives, some statues and statue bits, and much more. The beautiful sarcophagus on the first floor is worth a look. Photos allowed. I enjoyed reading many of the placards that describe everything from the ancient landscape of Sicily (ancient hippos and elephants here!) to the prehistory of each section of Sicily, to the founding of Syracuse and Ortigia, and Roman penetration. But yes it’s a very old-fashioned museum with many interactive displays not working and it’s obvious some displays are dusty and other cabinets not lit at all.

Nice collection but very bad maintained. Dust in a lot of the show cases, very bad illuminated sometimes totaly absent. Nobody realy seemes to care for it and thats a pitty.

We purchased a combined ticket for the archeological park and the museum. There is a huge range of artifacts covering pretty much the entire time humans have been on Sicily. The artifacts range from pre bronze age onwards, we spent a good 2 hours there (avoiding the midday heat) and learnt a lot about the regional history.

The Museo Archeologico Regional is interesting. It is a bit down at heel in places such as the toilets! But the content of the museum is worth going for. Staff are ambivalent to you so expect queues for tickets. Therte is no Museum cafe but a drinks machine so bring snacks and water.

Excellent museum with a large collection of ancient artifacts from Sicily. There is English available on the signage . The coin collection is amazing. You could spend an entire day here easily and still not see all of it.

nice collection, well laid out on three levels, although the building is in dire need of refurbishment, and the gardens are hidden and neglected, a much better value when purchased as a combined ticket with the archaeological park, too bad they are not on the same grounds. (overall much better than the similar experience in agrigento

Beautiful space and thorough. Some areas were not very well maintained. The lady at the coin selection floor was very helpful and welcoming. The reception barely spoke English so it was quite difficult to communicate. It is a very extensive selection. Worth a visit.

A great and a big archeological museum definitely need to visit

It has a wonderful number of artifacts but the museum lacks any artistic vision or imagination. Most things are displayed simply, there are no recreations or drawings to show examples, there is no aspect of interactivity and so for someone who is not deeply interested in the subjects the museum is quite plain, no interest at all for children. Having thousands of artifacts does not mean all have to be displayed, this museum needs more of a quality vs quantity approach in terms of its displays and could use some more creative direction and planning in its layouts. The English translations are well done but it also lacks even pamphlets in other languages so if you don’t speak English or Italian there are no options for you

Extensive collection of artifacts from Greek period in Syracuse. Unfortunately the collection is housed in overstuffed cabinets with little attempt at providing written explanations of the displays. There are some fabulous items on display but the museum is a bit confusing in its layout and needs a lot of work. Very few people there when we visited as it is a difficult position, needs to be attached to the Archeological park.

Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi in Siracusa is a cultural treasure trove, housing artifacts that unveil Sicily's intricate past. The museum's vast collection spans prehistoric to Roman periods, showcasing the island's diverse heritage. Notably, it boasts an extensive numismatic section, offering insights into ancient economies. The captivating exhibit of the famous "Dancing Satyr," a rare Hellenistic bronze sculpture recovered from the sea, stands as a testament to the region's artistic prowess. With meticulous curation and engaging displays, this museum provides an immersive journey through Sicily's archaeological evolution, making it an essential stop for history enthusiasts and curious minds alike.

The only tourist attraction open on a Friday afternoon/evening. Great introduction to the islands history, with artifacts from the neolithic through to 16th century, and lots of information in English. We went to Pantalica after because of this museum and loved it. Wheelchair friendly. One section closed because the building seems to be leaking everywhere. Expect to spend a few hours here.

While many pieces are undoubtedly of great significance and the sheer quantity of exposition is enormous, the presentation seems extremely outdated. This museum seems directed more for scientific visits rather than for touristic experiences. There are numerous arbitrary dividers which make navigating the building a challenge. Plan at least 4 hours for a visit. If you want to see everything, take 6. And due to the number of exhibits, the truly significant pieces are often drowned between countless lesser interesting exhibits.

An incredible place. It’s not to be missed. The range is almost overwhelming it’s that comprehensive. The archaeological riches of the area are incredible and they are covered superbly here. There’s awe and beauty in pretty much every spot you see in this museum. The range of Greek treasures is incredible. There are very good Italian and English explanations. Your choice is whether you spend a few hours or a few days here. But whatever you do, don’t miss it.

Amazingly vast collection of art and artifacts from the area's first peoples, through Greek and Roman, early Christian and medieval. Fascinatingly it also indicates how and where most items were found in Syracuse. This serves to connect the viewer well to history and their surroundings. Enjoyed the combined ticket with the nearby archaeological park.

Very large and a bit confusing. A lot of finds not related to Syracusa. Coin collection is impressive and located in the basement, easy to miss.

This is a total must see in Siracusa, no doubt - at least on the outside and better if you walk in to the church. The interior is very disappointing but the architecture is incredible- real shame that no one took this opportunity of amazing construction to also be innovative about the interior design. The museum, which I visited last time, you can skip unless you are big fans of religious relics...

Looks like a citrus press on the outside and like a spaceport terminal on the inside. I'm sure if Elon Musk ever builds one, it'll look very alike. Found it worth the stop, as it is a unique building, certainly to be found on Italian (Sicilian!) ground. The way the construction carries sound is also quite interesting; hearing the people pray by chanting to each other made the visit extra special.

Huge basilica that looks much older than it really is, being the project from 1957, it was only finished in 1994! A great deal of the delay came from popular opinions against the "monster of reinforced concrete". The church is about 103 meters high from outside and 94 meters from the inside floor. Excluding chapels, it has a diameter of 71 m and a capacity of 11,000 standing and 6000 seats. The sound distortions inside are really amazing and combined with the spectacular cone of light it really does feel like you are ascending to the heavens.

Of you are into brutalist architecture this is the hidden gem for you. Not so hidden as it is quite enormous, but something that you do not expect. The inner dome is.something you can marvel at hot a long time and just forget yourself. You can see Marie from the distance on the building itself but when you go inside looking at the dome you feel like the eye of God is watching.

Nice modern architecture for a modern church. Although it looks like a nuclear bunker. Inside looked nice and enormous.

A very strange church, but for the lovers of Modern architecture it’s a nice place to visit

It's worth a visit if you are in town for a few days and are looking for something to do. It's not your typical church setting, and the dimension loses the warmth, peacefulness, and comfort needed to be fully at peace. But the stained glass windows and cone shaped ceiling are interesting.

The inside of the basilica is peaceful and spiritual. Management should keep the beggars outside though. The tranquility is disturbed by a beggar in a cap who walks along the benches and stops by every single person to ask for money. Unfortunately quite a few people donate, reinforcing his behavior. After receiving money from one person in a family, he still begs every other member of the family. Afterwards, the beggar counts his coins, clinking echoes throughout the church.

A very strange looking cathedral, looks like a huge tent! Very huge and tall from inside too, nothing like our Orthodox churches, no spirituality at all. Watch the video on my youtube channel: GreekOrthodoxVlogger

Basilica Santuario Madonna delle Lacrime in Siracusa is a marvel that seamlessly combines modern architecture with spiritual significance. Completed in 1994, it stands as a testament to devotion and faith. The basilica houses a revered weeping Madonna statue, commemorating a miraculous event in 1953. Its design, reminiscent of a teardrop, symbolizes the tears shed by the Madonna. The basilica's stunning interior, adorned with intricate mosaics, captivates visitors, creating a serene atmosphere for reflection. This contemporary sanctuary not only holds religious importance but also serves as a architectural and cultural landmark in the heart of Siracusa.

Must visit place. The new style church. Very impressive sight.

Keeping in mind the city is small. The basilica is small as well.

Nice concrete building and another sample of wasted resources on a faith place. Why don't they put all the money on solving human problems

We didn’t get to go inside but the gift shop was open and the man working in the shop was so nice and explained the history of the church to us and it’s significance. Very meaningful and beautiful church. He spoke very good English and showed us around the shop.

so special design and inside also impressive. good for opening at early morning allow us to visit inside the church

This cafe is listed as one of the best to have Granita. I have tried many.. Well, it's overly sweet! Moreover the coffee taste for granita is awful, if you go to a supermarket and you buy industrial gelato called "coppa del nonno" is the same thing. Plus the staff is just alright...

A nice terrace to sit with good cappuccino, orange juice, pistachio croissant and cannolo.

Excellent service, the waiter was very friendly and spoke English. The granite (Italian ice) and aperitifs are a great way to cool down on their beautiful umbrella-covered patio. Grazie!

Delicious ice creams, friendly service and a nice place ❤️ thank you 😊

A very friendly cafe. Great view of Apollo,s Temple. Loved coffee and cake. And Aperol!

This place is just a scam! They charge you upper prices just because you are a tourist. I had to ask for the pay slip to check otherwise they won’t give you. We took take away snacks and in the bill was not described how much was it. Was just total price! Also, the staff has to ask to the owner (who is in receiving payments) the prices for everything! TOTALLY NOT RECOMMENDED. There are much better places around and honest people. Not like this!

Probably best coffee we had on Ortigia, cornetti were top. Two cornetti and a cappuccino was €6.5. Came back another time for cannoli and peach granita which was pretty delicious aswell 😋. Good location to sit and relax and people watch.

This is one of my favorite cafes in Ortigia: the staff are genuinely kind and accommodating, and it's difficult to choose amongst all the tempting food. (Although my favorite are the ricotta filled pastries). The coffee and granita are excellent. It's a good place to gaze at the ancient temple and watch the people at the nearby market. That portion of the street is closed to traffic so is relatively peaceful. The owners take pride in keeping the cafe looking smart and recently added beautiful potted citrus trees outside.

I have to join in with some other commentators here. The receipt does not show you the things you had at the bar. They simply overcharged us, maybe because we are tourists. Most expensive coffee we had in Italy sofar. Coffee was ok, though.

This is a nice place to have a drink or a snack. We got a slice of pizza and pizzolo with chicken and cheese and it was very good. It’s actually really pretty at night with the lights. They also have a granita sample where you get to pick 4 flavors and it’s a very good size.

Came here twice on our stay in Syracuse and it was great. Good coffee, the best cream croissants EVER! and lovely waiter who spoke great english. It’s a good spot for people watching and nice and shaded with umbrellas. The tables all have lovely flowers on them too. Loved this place 😊

Really one of the best places I went for granita. I had the almond granita with brioche and it was warm from the oven. Delicious. A bit more expensive than the other places, but in my mind worth it.

The water is freezing but super refreshing and beautiful. We went the non tourist way. It means a half hour walk!

Interesting tour through the catacombs. Great to see and understand how they’ve been used over many centuries. A little difficult to understand the tour guide at times but he was very knowledgeable and receptive to questions. The tour takes about 45 minutes and it was easy to buy a ticket at the venue, albeit it was a weekday when I visited

We had a tour guide who spoke English and Italian. It was a good experience. I enjoyed the catacombs the most. It's pretty big in there.

Tourist attraction in Syracuse. The catacombs are a short walk from the arceological park and about 20 minutes from Ortigia. The site is relatively small, but worth a visit if you have a little extra time. Make sure to check the opening hours before coming, as it shuts for a break during the afternoon.

Great experience. Tour was given in Italian and English (ESL speaker). Really neat thing to get to see and not priced too high. Historical in many ways and was really cool to see one of the places St. Paul is alleged to have preached. To think that you’re standing in a place referenced in the Bible is pretty surreal. Highly recommend if you’re in the area. A great Sicilian historical feature!

Highly recommend seeing this place for yourself. It's only 8 euros and in that price you get an Italian and English speaking guide. Only minor issue was rude Italians talking over when guide was talking English, but she was great and told them to zip it. 🤐😁 Oh and unlike some people please note: no photos inside the catacombs! 👍 Thank you to our guide she was great.

I definitely recommend visiting. The site was interesting, has really remarkable history, was pleasant (nice and cool down there), and also is inside a structure that is aesthetically interesting above ground as well, so most definitely worth a visit. The neighboring cafe was also delicious and a recommended stop after your visit. One thing I want to note is that we almost did not come, because of some of the other reviews I saw, but I want to refute what I heard in some of the negative reviews, at least based on our experience today. 1. Predictability of the tour schedule: Some people complain that you can only visit with a guide and that there may be a wait for a tour. There are 2 things to consider here. First, you should not even *want* to see this site without a guide, because the guide provides a lot of information about what you're seeing that would not be self-explanatory on your own. Second, the schedule seemed very fair to me. It seems they were starting 1 tour per hour, on the hour, and that there was only 1 guide at a time inside the catacombs (possibly only one guide on the schedule). Perhaps this would be a different story in high season than in December. I would much rather have a wait, and have a peaceful quiet time in the catacombs. It was dead silent (and very cool) down there. 2. Quality of the guide: Some people complained that the guides were not good, not thoughtful, and that their English or even Italian were not understandable. This was not our experience at all. We had a fantastic guide. She was articulate in both languages, and did a very adept and fair presentation in both languages (typically alternating with about a paragraph or so at a time of her story in each language, to keep the entire audience engaged). She had excellent and thoughtful answers to all of our questions, and I also really appreciated that if a question was asked in one language, she would be sure to provide the answer in both languages (not all guides do this). I'm guessing that everything is more difficult to run efficiently in "high season" and that's part of the reason we chose to visit Sicily when we did.

Interesting visit. The catacombs are large znd surprisingly spacious. Entry is 10 euros. You get a 1 hour guided tour of the crypt and catacombs. The guide explained in both Italian and English. Taking pictures was not allowed.

Historical site located in the heart of Syracuse. They organise 45 minutes long guided tours. The catacombs are huge. Underground Corridors and tunnels with some unique inscriptions and curious stories behind. The ticket is 10 euros. Last tour in the morning starts at noon.

Wow! Immense, interesting what lies below, and the burial rituals of cultures now forgotten from the distant past. Well worth the visit.

Super interesting and educational. The guide was excellent, she translated into Italian and english. 😊

From outside it looks like just another abandoned church. So we were debating if we should pay €10 for entrance with guide. It is quite extensive network of catacombs. The guide was very knowledgeable and explained everything. She knew the place very well - she got married there. The only thing I would advise her is to speak a little bit slower in English. Sometimes it was difficult to understand her.

Nice catacombs, really big place. They were used in the fifth century and again during the world war as a shelter so don't expect any original bodies or skeletons here. Pictures can be taken only of the exterior. Careful with the break hours during lunch.

A must-visit place. For 10 euros you can admire the great man-made catacombs with an English tour guide and learn the history of San Giovani and his chapel.

Lovely foundation in the middle of a square. Restaurants, etc surround it.

Little Piazza in Siracusa that shoyld be added to the list of places to visit. We went in winter and had the place pretty much to ourselves. We enjoyed talking and sitting nearby and admiring its beauty. It's not every day you come across a fountain like this in the middle of a city.

Beautiful little square with some great bars for a drink. Perfect to relax, take a break from sight seeing have a drink and enjoy the view on this beautiful fountain

Beautiful fountain. From here you can go in all directions into the historic centre. Roundabout is busy, but you can walk around and take photos here just fine.

Beautiful piece of art in Sicily.

The Fountain of Diana in Siracusa, Sicily, mesmerizes with its graceful beauty and mythological allure. Depicting the goddess Diana, it exudes elegance and majesty, surrounded by the historic charm of Ortigia Island. A symbol of artistic excellence and cultural richness, the fountain enchants visitors with its timeless splendor.

Lovely, old fountain. The water was not running when I visited in early April. I did not see an explanation of the myth portrayed by the statues posted anywhere.

The Fountain of Diana is located on the Piazza Archimede. It’s very beautiful. People call also this fountain “Fontana di Diana” or “Fontana di Artemide” in italian. Both names suits to this beautiful fountain. Simply sit near it and enjoy the view 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

Beautiful fountain in the middle of a nice piazza for people watching, enjoying some food, a spritz or other drinks in a few establishments have nice outdoor seating oriented towards the fountain to facilitate said scenery watching. A great stop while in Ortigia!

Beautiful fountain in honor of the Greco Roman goddess of the hunt, moon, chastity and more. Several restaurants nearby in a very chill plaza.

Beautiful fountain of Diana in the center of Piazza Archimede. The fountain was build by Giulio Moschetti in 1907 and still standing beautifully strong. Diana is the goddess of the hunt, wild animals and wilderness and was often shown carrying a bow and arrow. It is also known as the Fountain of Artemis, as the original Greek name for the Roman goddess Diana was Artemis.

Gorgeous little piazza with a fountain in the middle. We had a perfect spot at one of the restaurants at the square, right in front of the fountain, which was highlighted by some purple lights. There's a bench or two if you don't want to spend money and sit in the restaurant.

There are nice shops up and down the alley.It is situated in the middle under the sun

Nice place at night :D Plan your walkpath through this fountain when you have a trip in Syracusa.

The fountain is on a nice square where you can have a coffee or antipasto or pizza with a view. It's nice area close to the promenade. In the afternoons could be more windy because of the sea.

Truly gorgeous castle! We were amazed by its design and its views of the water and the town. We recommend coming around sunset for even better views and lighting! Well worth the entrance fee

Very picturesque castle with an unexpected surprise - art installation made out of shattered mirrors on the floor. Castle itself isn't big, it's more like an military fortress with a lighthouse on top of it. No queue to ticket office, clean toilet on site and you can hide from the heat in here as well.

Very well preserved castle. If you are a gamer, it's quite likely that you will get some Elden Ring vibes out of it. I sure did :) I also enjoyed the outside canon windows overlooking the sea and the great sea breeze that rushed through them.

Worst tourist attraction. If I could give negative stars I would. Firstly this certainly is not a castello rather it is just a run down old fort. Nothing interesting. It is significantly overpriced. Don’t waste your time or your money. Staff was rude too.

It was not worth a penny and the tickets were 8€ per adult. The place is dull, run down fort, without ANY content, not even a table that explains anything about the place. If there were any they were only on Italian, no English. I think this was the wasted money and would recommend not to go here. They need to work this place out a lot. They should look over to Croatia, places like this with such an history importance are museums and offer much much more.

Beautiful castle overlooking the sea. Currently there is an exhibition by Alfredo Pirri, which is fun to walk through. Its a pity there is not a lot of information about the castle or its history, but overal its a nice experience for a morning or afternoon activity.

Great Castle with a lighthouse. At the very south of the island. Entree Fee is 8€. Outside the castle there is a large garden with benches, a great area to take pictures and cafè-bar-restaurant with terrace. Easy Access to all. WC from the bar-restaurant.

I had a wonderful time visiting Castello Maniace in Syracuse. It is a stunning example of medieval architecture and history, with a beautiful view of the sea and the city. The castle is well preserved and has many interesting features, such as the decorated portal, the bronze rams and the diamond-pointed fortification. The staff was friendly and informative, and the entrance fee was reasonable. I highly recommend this place to anyone who loves culture and history. It is a must-see attraction in Syracuse!

Nicest beach in the area. Super froendly staff. Building is still recovering from winter but as of yesterday (6 may 2024) things are functioning again..

Beautiful beach we discovered in the middle of a family holiday. Adults had to pay for access, but children were allowed in free to use loungers and umbrella. Very friendly staff, reasonably priced, and absolutely fantastic beach and water - provided the relaxation we needed. There is no easy public travel service we could find, but a taxi from Syracuse cost approx 20 Euro

The best Lido in Syracuse. International level, excellent customer service. With bar, restaurant, gelateria, and very tasty options for lunch, coffee, ice cream, granita, panini. Very organised, clean, and lots of measurements anti covid in place that the personnel follows as well as the customer.

Big sandy beach, pretty crowded, the dark side is the club which take a large part of the beach and the car park. Better to arrive early. Water is cool and clear.

Clean beach, comfortable sunbeds, good customer services, but the pasta was not very tasty, the granita seems to be industrial with dry brioches. The prawn were amazing. Table were clean with a beautiful view.

Beach front location there is a wide range of food and plenty of seating and even toilet facilities here staff are very friendly and helpful. The only bad thing about it is the mozzies in the car park but the Lido can't be blamed for that.

Great little. Beach close to Siracusa

One of the few options for an equipped beach at Arenella. Parking is easy (5 euros). Umbrella and chairs a bit expensive, food and drinks of good quality and plenty of choice.

Nice, easy, not too busy, bit expensive beds