Defined by Cicero as “the greatest and most beautiful of all Greek cities,” the homeland of Archimedes was included in 2005 in the UNESCO World Heritage List together with the Necropolis of Pantalica. The name Syracuse derives from the term Syraka (abundance of water), due to the presence of rich springs. Founded by the Greeks in 734 BC, it quickly became a Pentapolis, as the original settlement—Ortigia Island—was joined by four additional districts: Akradina, Tiche, Neapolis, and Epipolis.
A crossroads of civilizations, Syracuse bears witness to the succession of peoples who have left their significant mark, making the ancient Greek city a metaphor for the passage of time. From the Romans to the barbarian invasions, the Byzantines, the Arabs, the Normans, the Swabians, the Angevins, the Aragonese and the Spanish, and finally the Bourbon rulers, more than a millennium of dominations is beautifully preserved, with a magical blend of Baroque, in the buildings, museums, squares, and streets of a city that echoes history and tradition.
Set along the southeastern coast, Syracuse was one of the largest metropolises of the ancient world, a seaside city where Plato intended to establish his Republic of philosophers.
The city is divided between the island of Ortigia, where the first Greek settlement was established, and the mainland, where the Neapolis district stands.
It is on the island of Ortigia that the historic center rises, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in Sicily. Not by chance, the area has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its extraordinary architectural composition, where traces of Greek civilization merge with medieval and Baroque features.
The coastlines of Syracuse are mainly rocky, but along the shoreline there are also sandy stretches, such as the beautiful Gallina Beach in Avola, or the popular Fontane Bianche. These spots, as well as the cliffs of the Maddalena Peninsula, are characterized by clean, crystal-clear waters, making Syracuse the ideal destination for those who wish to combine a cultural holiday with a seaside vacation.
