Fountain of Athena (Anna DeLange)
Sicily has so many beautiful cities that are a must-see when spending time on this beautiful island. One of these beautiful cities, and a personal favorite, is the city of Syracuse and it’s historical old town on a small island connected by bridges: Ortigia (spelled Ortygia in English). This little destination is filled with beautiful baroque architecture and so much history that it is a UNESCO site. The area is filled with a lot of Greek history as well as Roman, Arab and Norman influence. You can take an MWR tour, or a local guided tour to learn all about the Greek mythology and legends that are set in this area. Regardless of it’s small size, Ortigia is a city that is not something to be missed, whether you are on vacation or living on the island.
Syracuse Duomo (Anna DeLange)
How to Get Here
From NAS Sigonella, it is about an hour’s drive south, mostly spent on the freeway. My suggestion, if you are driving, is to park in the city of Syracuse where there are a lot of options available. There are some ZTL restrictions in Ortigia.
If you are not interestd in driving, you can always take a train down to Syracuse and not worry about parking! You can either take the train from the Catania or Lentini station. It may take a bit longer if you don’t live close to the stations, but the route is scenic and enjoyable.
Another option to get to this spot of beautiful history is to take an MWR tour, usually offered monthly, from NAS Sigonella. My first visit to Syracuse and Ortigia was on a guided tour through MWR and I truly would recommend it! MWR can pick you up at three locations on base; simply sit back and relax while learning history. They also have a restaurant picked out that is included in the cost.
Archway at Maniace Castle (Anna DeLange)
Sights to See
Spend just a day or keep coming back to explore this quaint town, there is so much to see. Wandering the island and trying new restaurants is always a fun escape. Walking into Ortigia leads you straight into one of the most important ancient Greek monuments located in Sicily, the Temple of Apollo. Something I have yet to get over living in Europe randomly stumbling upon ruins – I am still amazed when a ruin is right in front of me.
Another main sight that should be on anyone’s list when visiting Ortigia is the Duomo (Cathedral) of Syracuse. The cathedral has a fascinating history. Originally it was a Greek temple dedicated to Athena that was later walled in and converted into a church. The cathedral also has Arabic, Norman and Baroque architecture from additions during their various rules, as well as damage reconstruction over time.
Fountain of Arethusa (Anna DeLange)
Due to the location of the island, there is also an old fortress, Castello Maniace, which was later turned into a castle and is open to the public. Tickets include an audio guide. It costs nine euros for adults, while those under 18 enjoy free admission.
There are an abundance of roundabouts in Italy and even is one on this small island. Thie Ortigia roundabout houses the beautiful Fountain of Diana, built in 1906. The fountain is said to tell a ‘love’ story where Aretusa sought help from Diana through the waters that led to Ortigia. There is another famous fountain named the Fountain of Arethusa. This is not a traditional fountain but more of a natural spring. The Fountain of Arethusa is actually one of only two existing wild springs in Europe where papyrus grows naturally and it dates back thousands of years. For a fun activity away from the historical sites, you can soak up the sun on the small spiaggia Cala Rossa and leave with some beautiful sea glass.
Catacomb of San Giovanni (Anna DeLange)
If you are visiting during the summer months you can visit some sundecks or solariums to enjoy the Sicilian sun.
Now, the Catacombs of San Giovanni are not on the island of Ortigia, but this Syracuse highlight has beautiful ruins and an amazing system of tunnels and tombs. I highly suggest visiting this site while in the area!
