Ortigia

Syracuse, Italy

The historical heart of Syracuse, located on a small island at the eastern tip, recommended as a place to stay.

Places in Ortigia

Ortigia seafood restaurants A seaside town with fresh fish and seafood as the culinary focus, throughout the historic island quarter.
Sicilian staple restaurants Sicilian staples including caponata, arancini, and pasta with breadcrumbs flavoured with anchovies.
Ortigia cafés near Aretusa Fountain Cafés near the fountain, popular with visitors exploring Ortigia.
Grand Hotel Ortigia rooftop bar A rooftop terrace near the Aretusa Fountain, offering panoramic views over Ortigia.
Ortigia evening bars Bars throughout the historic island quarter, popular for evening aperitivo.
Syracuse UNESCO World Heritage status Ortigia and Neapolis together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reflecting the city's Greek, Roman, Norman and Baroque layers.

Best time to visit: April to June and September to October offer comfortable weather for exploring Ortigia and the Neapolis Archaeological Park.
Getting around: Ortigia, the historic island heart of Syracuse, is compact and entirely walkable; the Neapolis Archaeological Park on the mainland is a short walk or drive away.
Currency: Euro (€)
Language: Italian. English is common in tourism.
Timezone: CET (UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer)
Current trends: Syracuse's dining scene continues centring on fresh fish and seafood as the culinary focus, with Sicilian staples like caponata, arancini, and pasta with sardines defining the local palate, while Ortigia remains the recommended base for visitors exploring the UNESCO-listed old town.

Neapolis Archaeological Park — The mainland area where the ancient Greek city of Neapolis once stood, home to the Greek Theatre and Ear of Dionysius.
Aretusa Fountain area — Home to Grand Hotel Ortigia, with a rooftop terrace near the fountain.