Holiday apartment in Syracuse: history, nature and Ortigia

Syracuse combines the oldest settlement core of Ortigia with an archaeological and culturally shaped urban experience. A holiday apartment in Syracuse is appealing because of the combination of UNESCO World Heritage, ancient and later buildings, nature observation, and a lemon-growing tradition passed down from generation to generation. Families and other travellers can therefore choose their focus between history, landscapes, animals and local culture.

Holiday apartment in Syracuse between Ortigia and Neapolis

Ortigia is the oldest settlement core of Syracuse. The part of the UNESCO World Heritage site relating to the ancient city of Syracuse includes the island of Ortigia and the archaeological area of Neapolis. Ortigia is connected to the rest of Syracuse by two bridges, providing a clear spatial orientation for planning. The island is also home to the Fonte Aretusa, a freshwater pool connected to a spring.

Castello Maniace is located at the outermost tip of Ortigia. Frederick II had the fortress built in 1239. The structure is a square fortress from the Staufer period, with sides measuring 58 metres and four cylindrical towers at the corners.

Nature and birdlife along the Ciane

Another side of the city is revealed by the Fiume Ciane e Saline di Siracusa nature reserve. It protects the papyrus along the Ciane River and preserves the wetlands of the salt pans. The protected area consists of the course of the Ciane River and the salt-pan wetlands near its mouth. The salt pans are an important wetland and serve as a resting place for migratory birds. Flamingos, ospreys, cormorants and various large wading birds are among the species found there. This creates a natural-history counterpoint to the historic sites when planning your trip.

Cultural history from antiquity to art

The monuments and archaeological sites in Syracuse combine Greek, Roman and Baroque cultural influences. At the San Giovanni catacombs, you can expect a complex dating from the 4th century. Its main gallery is an almost 100-metre-long tunnel whose walls are lined with loculi and arcosolia.

The Galleria Regionale di Palazzo Bellomo presents medieval and modern art collections with works dating from the Byzantine period to the 18th century. Palazzo Bellomo, which houses the regional gallery, is considered a well-preserved example of 12th-century Frederician architecture. The Sanctuary of Madonna delle Lacrime provides a more recent religious connection: it was inaugurated by John Paul II on 6 November 1994.

Combine a holiday home in Syracuse with your own travel focus

Whether you choose a holiday apartment or a holiday home in Syracuse, these places offer different ways to shape your stay: Ortigia combines settlement history, a spring and a fortress, Neapolis represents the UNESCO World Heritage site, and nature along the Ciane brings wetlands and birdlife to the fore. The centuries-old tradition of lemon cultivation is also part of Syracuse’s identity and complements the cultural and landscape impressions with a culinary aspect. This allows you to base your accommodation choice on the mix of themes that matters most for your trip.

You can also discover other destinations: Melilli, Lentini, Solarino, Sortino, Noto, San Lorenzo, Brucoli, Terrauzza.

For the higher-level travel overview: Syracuse.