Ortigia Island, Historic Center of Syracuse

Visiting it means taking a journey spanning 3000 years, concentrated in just one square kilometer, shaped by Greek temples, Christian churches, Swabian, Aragonese, and Baroque palaces, Arab alleys, flowered courtyards, shops, modest homes, and grand public buildings. Not to be missed is the Maniace Castle, crouched in the southern part, built in the first half of the 13th century by Frederick II of Swabia and used both as a residence and a defensive stronghold. Having survived both the 1693 earthquake and a sudden gunpowder explosion in 1704, it has retained its original square layout and preserved only one corner tower. The Cathedral, originally a temple of Athena from the 5th century, underwent several transformations to become a Christian basilica, reaching its current Baroque form; it houses important works of art and a 17th-century statue of Saint Lucia. Overlooking the lively Cathedral Square are exquisite Baroque palaces, including Palazzo Beneventano dal Bosco and Palazzo del Senato. In the northern part of Ortigia stands the Temple of Apollo from the 6th century BC, considered the oldest in Sicily; over the centuries it became a Byzantine church, Arab mosque, Norman church, and Aragonese barracks. In Ortigia, all streets and visitor routes lead to the sea. At sunset, the large natural harbor becomes a magical place, filled with the last voices, the final gestures of the day, and the scents of fish wafting from nearby restaurants. To the north, on the mainland, lies the Neapolis, home to the impressive Archaeological Park, which includes the Greek Theater, the Roman Amphitheater, the Altar of Hiero II, the Paradiso Quarry with the Cave of the Ropemakers and the Ear of Dionysius, a necropolis, and the evocative Street of the Tombs.