Syracuse Ortigia and Noto Day Tour with Brunch from Catania

Syracuse and the Neapolis Archaeological Park

Syracuse was founded by Greek settlers from Corinth in 734 BC and became one of the most powerful cities of the ancient Mediterranean, the birthplace of the mathematician Archimedes. The Neapolis Archaeological Park preserves the heart of that world: a Greek Theatre carved into the hillside that could seat thousands, a Roman amphitheatre, ancient quarries and the limestone cave known as the Ear of Dionysius. Syracuse and Pantalica together are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed in 2005.

You spend about an hour at the park on a self-guided visit with the paper guide provided, because the driver does not enter the site. The park entrance fee is not included and is paid at the gate. If you ask how long you need at Neapolis, an hour covers the theatre, the quarries and the cave comfortably, and mornings are cooler than afternoons in summer.

Ortigia, the island old town

Ortigia is the small island that formed the original core of Syracuse, joined to the mainland by short bridges. Its narrow streets open onto sunlit squares, Baroque palaces and the sea. Your walk begins at the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, a Greek temple from the sixth century BC and among the oldest Doric temples in Sicily.

From there you stroll to the cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, a white Baroque facade built around the columns of an earlier Greek temple, and then to the Fountain of Arethusa, a freshwater spring full of papyrus plants beside the sea. Your driver accompanies you around Ortigia, and there is free time for lunch or a coffee in the alleys. Around two hours are spent here.

Noto and the Sicilian Baroque

Noto was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693, and its palaces, churches and stairways were designed together in the Sicilian Baroque style, in soft golden limestone that glows in the afternoon light. It is often described as an open-air museum, and its historic centre belongs to the Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto, listed by UNESCO in 2002.

You walk along the main street, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, past the cathedral on its grand staircase, the town hall and balconies decorated with stone figures. It is best to spend about an hour here. Noto is one of the answers to the question of what to see near Syracuse if you love architecture, and it makes a natural last stop before the drive back to Catania.

Brunch, the vehicle and how the day is organised

The tour leaves from a meeting point in Catania city centre, close to your hotel, around 8:30, and returns about eight and a half hours later. The drive to Syracuse is roughly an hour. Brunch is included and is made of typical Sicilian products, with water, and it is taken in a local venue around midday.

The vehicle is air-conditioned and shared with other travellers, and a child car seat is available if needed. Your driver is not a guide, so the day is relaxed and self-paced, supported by an online brochure and maps. Entry to the Neapolis park and any other sites, extra food and drinks, and tips are not included.