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MINI GUIDE OF SYRACUSE (SIRACUSA) FOR OUR GUESTS
THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF THE TOWN AND OF THE PROVINCE - A COMPLETE ITINERARY FROM THE HOSTEL


THE CITY
The two main places of interest in Siracusa are the island of Ortigia and the Archaeological Park, both less than 10 minutes walking from the hostel. To Ortigia there is also a free shuttle bus from the bus station (50mts from the hostel, when you exit the hostel go right and the first left). After the bus station on Corso Umberto you will find the only supermarket of the historical center. From the hostel entrance go right and you will find the train station (50 mts from the hostel).

ORTIGIA - UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
A 3000 years history in the same place, in the very center of the city. You cannot miss Ortygia, one of the most beautiful sites all over Sicily. To go there outside the hostel go left, pass Marconi Square, from which you will see on your left the Pantheon and proceed to Corso Umberto, pass the bridge Ponte Umbertino and you will be on the island. On the left side of Piazza Pancali you will see the Temple of Apollo (VII b.C.), the most ancient temple of Sicily and probably of the entire mediterranean area (note the doric columns very close one to another), proceed to Corso Matteotti (shopping area) and you will arrive in Piazza Archimede, a baroque square with some interesting buildings (XVIII and XIX century) and a fountain dedicated to the greek goddess Artemis-Diana and the nymph Arethusa. Going right and then left you will admire in Via Landolina the Church of Collegio and you will reach the beautiful Piazza Duomo with the Cathedral, a stunning baroque square with a unique example of a Church with baroque facade integrated into an old greek temple dedicated to the Greek Goddess Athina (still see the ancient greek columns inside). In piazza Duomo you can visit the Underground city (called Ipogei) admire the baroque buildings, Palazzo del Senato (also called Vermexio), the town hall, Palazzo Beneventano, Palazzo Borgia and Palazzo Arcivescovile and visit the Church of Santa Lucia alla Badia, where the famous Caravaggio's painting "The burial of Saint Lucy" is shown, and the Church of Montevergini. In Via S. Lucia there is a weird statue of the Holy Mother hanged on a wall. Follow via della Conciliazione and get to via Capodieci where you will find the Regional Museum Palazzo Bellomo, a museum located in a recently restored medieval palace of astonishing beauty (XIII-XIV century B.C.) where you can find the famous Antonello da Messina's painting "Annunciazione". Going down to via Picherali you will reach the Font of Aretusa, water spring just near the sea, dedicated to the nymph Arethusa loved by Alphaeus, and symbolizing the connection between Siracusa and its greek mother city Korynthos. Visit the Aquarium, enjoy the beautiful view of Lungomare Alfeo (great sunset there!) and reach the recently restored Castle of Maniace, a fortress built in 1038 A.D. by captain Maniace and then transformed into a Castle by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen. Follow the Lungomare Ortigia (also called “di levante”, on the east side) and enter the old Jewish part of the island, called La Giudecca, less touristic than the western part, with small charming alleys and one of the oldest and most important Jewish ritual bath, the Jewish Miqvè of Siracusa, of all the mediterranean area. Then you can enjoy a show in the Theatre of the traditional sicilian puppets (Teatro dei pupi) in Via della Giudecca and have a nice walk in the alleys of this incredible island, and in via Maestranza with its baroque buildings like Palazzo Impellizzeri, and Palazzo Montalto.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK AND SURROUNDINGS
Siracusa has one of the most important archaeological areas of all the mediterranean countries. To reach it from the hostel (10 mins walking) go left, get to piazza Marconi, left to Via Catania and walk straight down on Corso Gelone. At the junction with Via Paolo Orsi on the left side you will find the entrance of the park and the ticket office. By car (3 mins) from the hostel you can go right, pass the station and at the first roundabout turn right to Via Paolo Orsi (parking near the Greek Theatre). Inside the park you can visit the stunning Greek Theatre (V B.C.) the biggest in Sicily and one of the biggest of all the ancient greek territories, where every year in May and June the greek tragedies of Eschilos, Sofocles and Euripides are still represented, the Roman Amphitheatre (II-IV A.D.) and nearby the Altar of Ierone II (III b.C.), an altar for animal sacrifices, the limestone caves called Latomie and the world famous Dionysus Ear, a cave with the shape of an ear with incredible acoustics, where the legend says that the tyrant Dionysus (V-IV B.C.) used to put the prisoners to hear from outside whatever they were talking about. Outside the park you can see the Greek and Roman Necropolis Grotticelle, with the socalled Tomb of Archimede. When you exit the park, cross Corso Gelone and take via Teocrito to reach the Archaological Museum Paolo Orsi, one of the most important of Italy for greek findings. Siracusa has the second largest system of catacombs on the Christian world after that of Rome, so you can’t miss San Giovanni Catacombs and the Basilica just beside the museum, close to the Papyrus Museum. Crossing viale Teocrito you will reach the huge modern Sanctuary of Holy Mother of Tears, a modern church whith a unique atmosphere, 103 meters tall, designed in 1957 by two French architets, Andrault and Parat, and inaugurated by pope John Paul II in 1994, reached by thousands of pilgrims every year. In the same area you can visit the old Church of Santa Lucia (from XII to XVIII century), Patron Saint of the city.

OUT OF TOWN
Following Via Elorina you will find the Roman Gymnasium with the Theatre (I b.C.) and the ancient Temple of Zeus also called Temple of the two columns (VI b.C.). Close to Belvedere (buses from the bus station close to the hostel) you can visit the Castle Eurialo, the most important mlitary fortress of the Greek period (IV B.C. - about 15.000 sqm.) and the Dionysus Walls, 27 kilometers of walls built by more than 60.000 slaves who installed well over 300 tons of stone every day for 5 years.

THE PROVINCE
Close to Siracusa you cannot miss the Source of the River Ciane natural reserve (Via Elorina, 2,5 kms from the hostel: boat excursions there), Noto (daily trains and buses from and to Siracusa), capital of Sicilian Baroque, Noto Antica (8 kms. from Noto), an abandoned site with buildings and tombs from 1300 B.C. to 1700 A.D., Palazzolo Acreide (buses from / to Siracusa) and its archaeological area of Akrai, the wonderful Vendicari Natural Reserve (close to Noto, reachable only by car/bike): trekking, birdwatching and relaxing in caribbean uncontaminated beaches, the beautiful lively fisherman village of Marzamemi (near Vendicari: only car / bike) with its very old tuna fisheries and the nightlife in summer, Portopalo di Capo Passero and Isola delle Correnti (buses from / to Siracusa), a paradise for surfers across the two seas, the astonishing Reserve of Pantalica Unesco Site, 6 kms from Sortino (only car / bikes /private excursions; buses only from / to Sortino), the most ancient necropolis in Sicily (1300 b.C.) in amazing naturalistic context, also accessible from the nice baroque town of Ferla, then Cavagrande del Cassibile (only car / bike / private escursions), amazing reserve with one of the deepest canyons in Europe, ancient villages and enchanting lakes and waterfalls where you can swim and sunbathe, Ragusa, Modica and Scicli (daily trains and buses from and to Siracusa, trains are faster), baroque pearls famous for their baroque buildings, amazing beaches, and typical products, like cheese and chocolate. With a short trip to the north (35 minutes by car, 1 hour by bus or train) you can visit Etna (daily excursions with naturalistic guides organized by the hostel), the highest volcano in Europe, and the beautiful city of Taormina

THE BEACHES
Siracusa has the most beautiful beaches in eastern Sicily. You cannot miss Fontane Bianche, Ognina, Arenella, Marchesa del Cassibile, the natural reserve of Plemmirio with its diving centers, Vendicari or Vindicari, San Lorenzo,Calamosche, Portopalo di Capo Passero and Carratois, a naturalistic paradise for surfers.