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 places steeped in history, including temples, palaces, churches, and fountains.

Description

At the designated time, we will 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 represents one of the earliest transitions from a wooden to a stone temple in Western Europe.

After covering the history of the temple, we will proceed to the Church of San Filippo Apostolo to explore its crypt, utilized as an air-raid shelter during World War II.

Next, we will visit Piazza Archimede to see the Fountain of Diana, created in 1906 by sculptor Giulio Moschetti, representing the myth of Arethusa and Alphaeus under Diana's protection.

Following this, our guided tour will take us 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 of water surrounded by papyrus plants, linked to the Arethusa and Alphaeus myth.

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