Ortigia Island Guided Tour

On this Ortigia Island Guided Tour, you'll wander through the labyrinth of alleys and streets of Syracuse's historical centre, discovering historical places, temples, palaces, churches, and fountains.

Description

At the indicated time, we'll meet at Largo XXV Luglio in front of the Temple of Apollo, the oldest Doric temple in Sicily dating back to the 6th century B.C. This temple illustrates the transition from wooden to stone architecture in Western Europe.

After discussing the temple's history, we'll explore the Church of San Filippo Apostolo and its crypt, which served as an air-raid shelter during World War II.

Next, we’ll visit Piazza Archimede to see the Fountain of Diana, created in 1906 by sculptor Giulio Moschetti, depicting the myth of the nymph Arethusa under the protection of Diana.

Our tour will then proceed to the Cathedral of Syracuse, built in the 17th century by integrating the Baroque cathedral with the main Doric temple dedicated to the Roman goddess Minerva.

We will also observe the Arethusa Fountain, a circular pool surrounded by papyrus plants, further connected to the myth of Arethusa and Alphaeus, which we will discuss during the tour.

After 2 hours exploring the history of Syracuse's ancient island, we will conclude our guided tour of Ortigia.