Highlights of Syracuse, Syracuse, Italy

Syracuse is geographically closer to Noto than Catania is, but it enjoys a separate World Heritage recognition as an exceptional record of the development of Mediterranean civilization over three millennia. The WH site is actually a three-part collection that includes the archaeological park of Neapolis over a mile northwest of the city center, and the Necropolis of Pantalica good 25 miles out of the city. On our trip, we budgeted time solely for the island of Ortigia (sometimes spelled Ortygia), the historic nucleus of Syracuse that has been continuously inhabited for over 3,000 years.

Ortigia is very walkable and reasonably compact, high on the historic-feel quotient with a significant dollop of decay and occasional neglect, and somewhat short on the killer features.

In the background, there is the Ortigia street market, well worth spending some time browsing through.

The natural spring of Arethusa, a place of mythical renown and a rare host to the growing papyrus, is another mild point of interest.

Piazza del Duomo is by far the widest public space on the island, presided over by the cathedral itself, whose full name is Chiesa Cattedrale Natività di Maria Santissima. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).