VOICES FROM THE PAST

Echoes of ancient civilizations still resonate across the streets and squares of Syracuse, a sunny coastal town in southern Sicily. Explore its timeless beauty and relive the astonishing feats of this once feared Mediterranean ruler on a private guided tour.

Visitors to Syracuse can step into a collage of captivating sights: ancient Greek ruins lie amidst lush vegetation, medieval archways rub shoulders with elaborate Baroque facades, Christian churches take root within centuries-old pagan temples, all surrounded by the sparkling waters of the emerald Ionian Sea.

Founded in 734 BC, when Corinthian colonists first landed on the island of Ortygia, the city was set to become the greatest, most prosperous economic and military superpower of the ancient world, rivalling Athens in its grandeur and supremacy. In its 5th and 4th century BC heyday Syracuse was the cornerstone of culture in Western Europe. Distinguished celebrities of antiquity, including Aeschylus, Pindar and Plato, chose to live here, adding to the city’s fame. Today, after some 2,500 years, the ruins of the ancient city still stand as remarkable evidence of Syracuse’s former glories and are indisputably one of Sicily’s not-to-be-missed archaeological highlights.

Meet your private guide at your accommodation and begin your day with a visit to the excavation site of Neapolis, located in the north-western part of Syracuse. The magnificent 5th century BC theatre, one of the largest Greek theatres ever built, still serves its original purpose as a venue for performances and shows, offering contemporary play-goers pretty much the same programme of tragedies, seen by ancient Greek spectators thousands of years ago. The later 3rd century AD Roman amphitheatre hosted entertainments of a more brutal kind, providing blood-thirsty crowds with a gruesome calendar of events, like the mortal fights between gladiators and wild animals. Wandering through the old limestone quarries, if you listen carefully, you might still hear the cries of 7,000 Athenian soldiers, held prisoners here after the ill-fated 413 BC Sicilian Expedition. Your guide will certainly point out the legendary Ear of Dionysius, an artificial cave carved out of the rock where Dionysius the Tyrant is said to have locked up his bitterest enemies, taking advantage of the peculiar acoustics to eavesdrop on their conversations.

Next, reach the island of Ortygia, the very heart of the city, linked to the mainland by two road bridges. This quarter is an open-air museum featuring an eclectic array of surprising sights. Greek and Roman remains, medieval palazzi, Gothic-Catalan decorative motifs, 17th century buildings all coalesce in an unbroken procession of architectural masterpieces stretching back hundreds of years. Make your way through Ortygia’s meandering streets and listen to your guide narrate the stories behind some of its best-loved landmarks.

Did you know that Sicily’s oldest Doric temple was built here in the 6th century BC? Standing in Largo XXV Luglio you can admire what is left of this ancient sacred site. By the freshwater Spring of Arethusa you will hear intriguing tales of the capricious deities of ancient Greek mythology. Can you spot a nymph in the water attempting to escape from the unwanted advances of an insistent god? In Piazza del Duomo learn how a devastating natural catastrophe that struck Syracuse in 1693 was to trigger a grand Baroque revival, earning the town its most striking monuments. Then take a peek inside the splendid cathedral to see which ancient marvels have miraculously escaped the assaults of time. Finally, get a flavour of daily life in Syracuse on a visit to the city’s vibrant food market. While you amble past stalls brimming with treats that awaken the appetite, savour the sights of crisp green vegetables, the scents of fresh seafood and the sounds of lively traders singing the praises of their wares to attract the custom of passers-by.

Myth and veritable history, the ancient and the contemporary, the pagan and the Christian, disaster and resilience all intertwine in an irresistible blend of Sicilian charm.