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Syracuse

Sicily

Italy Travel Guide

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Overview

More than any other city, Syracuse (Siracusa) encapsulates Sicily's timeless beauty. Ancient Greek ruins rise out of lush citrus orchards, cafe tables spill onto dazzling baroque piazzas, and honey-hued medieval side streets lead down to the sparkling blue sea. It's difficult to imagine now, but in its heyday this was the largest city in the ancient world, bigger even than Athens and Corinth. Its 'once upon a time' begins in 734 BC, when Corinthian colonists landed on the island of Ortygia (Ortigia) and founded the settlement, setting up the mainland city four years later. Almost three millennia later, the ruins of that then-new city constitute the Parco Archeologico della Neapolis, one of Sicily's greatest archaeological sites. Across the water from the mainland, Ortygia remains Syracuse's most beautiful corner, a deeply atmospheric quarter with an ever-growing legion of fans enamoured with its beautiful streetscapes and attractive dining, drinking and shopping options.

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The Other Italy: a Grand Tour of Sicily's Taormina, Syracuse, and Palermo

11 days / 10 nights

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  1. 1Visiting Taormina’s Greek Theater to imagine the sights and sounds of Hellenistic Sicily
  2. 2Walking along Mount Etna’s volcanic terrain and scenic craters
  3. 3Cruising to Sicily’s Egadi Islands on a Favignana and Levanzo Boat Tour
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Best Things to Do

The jewel of Southern Italy, Sicily is marinated in history. Soak in the island's culture and heritage with this list of the top things to do in Syracuse.

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