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Ortigia

The island heart of Syracuse, layering Greek temples, the Arethusa spring, and Baroque streets in one kilometer.

  • Ortigia
  • District
Plan your visit
Where
Ortigia
Best for
Fonte Aretusa
Allow
3 hours
Tickets
Free

Greek settlers from Corinth founded Syracuse on this small island around 734 BC, drawn by the Fonte Aretusa, a freshwater spring that still bubbles up within yards of the sea exactly as the myth of the nymph Arethusa demanded.

Twenty-seven centuries of building sit on top of each other in barely a kilometer of streets: the stubby Doric columns of the sixth-century BC Temple of Apollo, Sicily's oldest, rise beside the fish market, while the Baroque cathedral on Piazza Duomo hides fifth-century BC Athena temple columns inside its own walls. Ortigia and the rest of ancient Syracuse together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site listed in 2005. In the evening, when day-trippers leave for the mainland, the lungomare and the old Jewish quarter, the Giudecca, belong almost entirely to residents again.

Sources and citations (2)
  1. UNESCO World Heritage CentreSyracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of PantalicaProperty data and Brief synthesisRead source
  2. Comune di SiracusaSyracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of PantalicaOrtigia and Piazza Duomo archaeologyRead source

Five things worth finding

If you see nothing else, see these.

  1. Fonte Aretusa

    A freshwater spring ringed by papyrus within yards of the sea.Seafront

  2. Temple of ApolloGreek Doric temple, 6th century BC

    Stubby Doric columns, among the oldest in Sicily, rise by the fish market.Near the market

  3. The cathedral and the Temple of AthenaGreek temple reused in a Baroque cathedral

    Fifth-century BC columns are built into the walls of the Baroque church; the ancient temple is still inside.Piazza Duomo

  4. Castello ManiaceFrederick II, 13th century

    A square Swabian fortress at the island’s tip, with sea on three sides.Southern tip of the island

  5. Ortigia’s market

    A morning fish-and-produce market where locals shop; the liveliest hour of the day.

Plan your visit

Everything you need before you go.

Tickets
Free
Booking
No booking needed
Time needed
3 hours
Best time
Early morning for the fish market, or after sunset once the day-trip crowds head back
Getting there
Ortigia connects to mainland Syracuse by two bridges and is best explored entirely on foot; the historic center is a limited-traffic zone, so drivers should park on the mainland side and walk in, about fifteen minutes from the train station.
Accessibility
Main streets are mostly flat and paved, though many are narrow cobblestone lanes, and some waterfront paths and the castle involve steps; no comprehensive accessibility map exists for the district as a whole.

The island itself is free to wander. The internal walkway around the Fonte Aretusa charges €5 (Tuesday to Sunday afternoons); the cathedral, Castello Maniace, and other individual monuments set their own separate fees.

Skip the crowded lungomare at sunset and instead climb to the Castello Maniace ramparts, on the island's southern tip, for the same light over open water with a fraction of the people.

Get directionsGoogle MapsApple Maps

Good to know

How long should you spend in Ortigia?

About three hours for a relaxed walk around the main sights. Add an evening if you want dinner by the water, and time on the mainland for the archaeological park.

Where do you park for Ortigia?

Park on the mainland side, since the historic center is a limited-traffic zone. The island is best explored on foot, and it is a short stroll across the bridges.

What is the best time of day for Ortigia?

Early morning is best for the market. Or come after sunset, when day-trippers leave and the waterfront belongs to residents again.

More to see nearby

Same city first, then the nearest across the region.

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