Chiesa di Santa Lucia alla badia

On the southeastern coast of Sicily, with an history that spans three millennia, lies the city of Siracusa (Syracuse). At its peak it was one of the most important city of the Mediterranean and, according to Cicero, it was also "the most beautiful of all". Today, traces of history can be found all over the city but the highest concentration of monuments is on the island of Ortigia, the historic center of the city. This walking tour includes: - 🥾 Step by step directions guiding you to all the most important sites in Ortigia - 🗺️ Information about what you will see along the tour - 🛏️ Practical suggestions, including hotels, to help you plan your trip Walking around Ortigia you will explore the ruins of Greek temples, Baroque monuments and churches, hidden remnants of the Jewish past in the city, a Norman castle, stunning views of the natural harbor of Siracusa and of the open Mediterranean, and much more!

Sicily is like an onion 🧅 whose layers are peeled to reveal yet more layers. Nearly the size of Massachusetts, Sicily - Mediterranean’s largest island - offers a seemingly overwhelming range of textures, tastes and experiences: hilltop towns built from a honey-colored stone that turns incandescent at sunset, blood 🏵️ oranges so sweet you can eat the peel, churches built atop Phoenician walls, adorned with Arab flourishes and covered in Byzantine mosaics, beaches running from grey pebbles to licorice-black sand and always the vast prairie of the sea, stretching to the horizon in shimmering blues and greens. The island is undeniably Italian but also proudly and stubbornly apart from the mainland, which many locals refer to as "il continente". I've even included some personal anecdotes to give extra color to each destination! NB: As I travel back to the region I will continue to update this list. If you purchase today, you will receive all future updates.