Creating memories.....one vacation at a time!

Siracusa (ancient Syracuse) and the small island, Ortigia, are in the southeast corner of Sicily,  an hours drive from the Catania (CTA) airport.  The area was devastated in the 1693 earthquake and the city was rebuilt in the Baroque style. Ortigia is a small island that is connected to Siracusa by a small bridge and  is the historical center of Siracusa and was founded by the Greeks in 775 BC.  They fortified the city with sea walls to keep out the Ionian Sea.   The island is 1 mile long and 1/2 mile wide so it is perfect for meandering down the narrow cobblestone streets and alleyways.  

Balconies and lamps are all over the island.  

Spirtu Santo church.

Ortigia has wonderful outdoor restaurants.

 The indoor restaurants are charming and the food is wonderful!

The Ortigia shops are overflowing. 

  Siracusa has Neapolis  Archaelogical Park with a Greek and Roman Theatre.

The park includes a quarry that includes a huge cavern called the Ear of Dionysius (left).  The quarry was a prison for 7,000 Athenian prisoners who built the city of Neapolis.

Madonna delle Lacrime church in Siracusa.  

There is also an Archaeological Museum in Siracusa.