THINGS TO DO WHILE IN SIRACUSA
VIOLA BAKERY
BREAKFAST
Via Roma 43 or Corso Giacomo Matteotti
Ortigia, Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$$
This is a perfect bakery for all your breakfast needs. Whether you want something more traditional like a coffee with a great cornetto (croissant), or if you want to immerse yourself in the typical Sicilian culture with “Granita and Brioche” shaved ice (yes Sicily invented shaved ice and it is delicious) and brioche (Ludovica’s and Cole’s favorite breakfast). The Granita comes in different flavors, Ludovica’s favorite is Limone and Cole really likes them all. Another breakfast specialty that is one of Ludovica’s and Cole’s favorites is Crema al Caffe, a must try! No reservation needed.
LUNCH TO GO
Via Emmanuele de Benedictis 6
Ortigia, Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$
This establishment is in the heart of the fresh market in Ortigia, and trying one of their sandwiches is quite the experience. You cannot pick your own, but they will make your sandwich for you, they will ask you of course if you have any allergies but then they will create your sandwich based on their inspiration. Delicious food, generous service, friendly staff, and a great street food atmosphere amongst the market’s other vendors. No reservation needed.
CAPPUCCIO PESCE FRESCO
LUNCH/DINNER
Via Emanuele Giaracà 8
Ortigia, Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$$
This establishment is also in the heart of the fresh market in Ortigia. Their menu is solely based on fresh fish that gets caught earlier in the morning. One of their most delicious and famous dishes is their fish burger a must try if you ask Ludovica. No reservation needed.
APERITIVO
Viale della Maestranza 33
Ortigia, Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$
You might have given it a google already but we eat dinner very late! So, what do we do before dinner? We do Aperitivo! Have drinks before dinner! If you like your aperitivos before your dinner (or after) this is your place! Reservation is not needed, but you can make one if you would like, if so, we recommend at least a couple of days before.
BARCOLLO
APERITIVO
Piazza Cesare Battisti 6/8
Ortigia, Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$
Again, if you like your aperitivos before your dinner (or after) this is your place! Reservation is not needed, but you can make one if you would like, if so, we recommend at least a couple of days before.
LUNCH/DINNER
Viale della Maestranza 96
Ortigia, Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$$$
Don Camillo is set in the heart of Ortigia, and a must try in Siracusa. Every dish is outstanding and a representation of the flavors that the land has to offer. The menu is diverse but if you ask Ludovica, she always selects her favorite dishes “Pasta con I ricci” sea urchin Pasta and “Gamberi Rossi”. The best translation for this fish is red prawns but it really is a type of crustacean that you can only find in the Mediterranean sea, needless to say it is a must try if you are trying to fully immerse yourself in the local culture. Reservation absolutely needed and recommended with a timely manner (weeks prior).
CORTILE SPIRITO SANTO
DINNER
Viale Salomone 21
Ortigia, Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$$$
Cortile Spirito Santo just entered the Syracusan culinary scene, but it is becoming one of the popular spots to dine while in the city. Differently from Don Camillo their cuisine is contemporary while still taking inspiration from and using the fresh products the motherland has to offer. Every dish is outstanding and prepared with the most attentive care. Reservation absolutely needed and recommended with a timely manner (weeks prior).
DINNER
Via Roma 115
Ortigia, Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$$
Le Vin de Assassin is a French restaurant with a modified menu that offers a contemporary cuisine that is a fusion of French and Sicilian culinary plates. The idea behind their menu is to offer French cuisine but with the best Sicilian fresh products. A great option if you are looking for some meat options on the menu as most restaurants offer fish. This is one of Ludovica’s favorites. Reservation is needed, we recommend making a week or at least a couple of days before.
RISTORANTE LA CAMBUSA
DINNER
Passaggio Aretusa 9
Ortigia, Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$$
Ristorante La Cambusa is a family-owned restaurant with a modified menu that offers a fusion of Japanese and Sicilian culinary plates. All the dishes are very tasty, and the portions are great. The menu offers only fresh ingredients and the owner Mario, and his wife will make sure that your dinner will be unforgettable! This is one of Ludovica’s favorites. Reservation is needed, we recommend making a week or at least a couple of days before.
DINNER
Via dei Candelai 21
Ortigia, Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$$
For all the Pizza lovers, Pizzeria Oleum Ortigia is a great place to get Pizza. If you are American, forget everything you know about Pizza, do yourself a favor and try real Italian pizza for at least one night, American pizza will never taste the same after this experience. This pizza is Ludovica approved. Reservation is needed, we recommend making a week or at least a couple of days before.
PIZZERIA ANIMA E CORE
DINNER
Via Claudio Mario Arezzo 9
Ortigia, Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$$
Another great place for pizza. This pizza is Ludovica approved. Reservation is needed, we recommend making a week or at least a couple of days before.
DINNER
Via Riva Giuseppe Garibaldi 10
Ortigia, Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$$
Just in case two recommendations for Pizza were not enough! Reservation is needed, we recommend making a week or at least a couple of days before.
GELATERIA DON PEPPINU
ICE CREAM TO GO
Corso Giacomo Matteotti 39
Ortigia, Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$
For all the Ice Cream lovers, Don Peppinu is THE place to get REAL gelato. If you are American, forget everything you know about gelato/Ice-cream, do yourself a favor, and try real Italian gelato (which Sicily invented by the way), Ice-cream will never taste the same after this experience. This gelato is Ludovica approved, she recommends you try local flavors like pistacchio, nocciola, mandorla and torrone, but really anything will blow your mind. Reservations are not needed.
BEACH CLUB
Traversa Renella Spiaggia 19
Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$
One of Ludovica’s favorite activities to do when visiting home is spending the day by the beach, relaxing, eating great food, and sunbathing. The beaches in Sicily are great establishments if you are trying to relax. Lido Nereidi offers an approximate €40 entry fee for private access to the beach, a spot to sit down, to relax, and sunbath. Also, a per diem for lunch or snacks at the bar is included with the entry fee. In Sicily summers are extremely hot and especially in the month of August we highly suggest that you take some time to relax during the hottest hours of the day versus site seeing. Reservation is needed, we recommend making a week or at least a couple of days before.
LIDO VARCO 23
BEACH CLUB
Str. Capo Murro di Porco 192
Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$
Lido Varco 23 similarly to Lido Nereidi offers an approximate €40 entry fee for private access to the beach, a place to sit down and relax and sunbath. Also, a per diem for lunch or snacks at the bar that is included with the entry fee. This establishment offers aperitivos and dinner reservations on the weekends with a great view of the water. Reservation is needed, we recommend make a week or at least a few days before.
BEACH CLUB
Contrada Reitani
Noto, SR 96017, Italy
$$
Because of the location of Lido Beach Agua, this can be your occasion to connect relaxation and site seeing. As a matter of fact, Noto is one of the must-see cities to visit while in Siracusa, if you have seen White Lotus you know! Reservation is needed, we recommend making a week or at least a couple of days before.
BAIAMURI STABILIMENTO BALNEARE
BEACH CLUB
96018 Pachino
Free municipal consortium of Siracusa, Italy
$$
Like Lido Beach Agua because of its location visiting this Baiamuri can be your time to have a relaxing experience as well as site seeing. Marzamemi is a perfect place to get dinner, very similar to Ortigia it is a go to place for a casual stroll and total immersion into the lifestyle. Did we mention this is Ludovica’s favorite beach club?! Reservation is needed, we recommend make a week or at least a couple of days before.
HISTORIC SITE SEEING
Piazza Duomo,
Ortigia, Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$
The underground of Piazza Duomo is a network of passageways connecting east-to-west the cathedral square to the walls of the Harbor, which is divided into a main gallery, from which radiate some smaller galleries. One of the small galleries is joined to the big cistern of the Archbishop’s Palace. The cistern had an essential role not only for the water supply of the Archbishop’s Palace, but for the entirety of Ortigia. During the entry into the Second World War, it was made available for the citizens, a safe haven in case of attack.
BAGNO EBRAICO
HISTORIC SITE SEEING
Via G.B. Alagona 52,
Ortigia, Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$
The Jewish baths, the center of Jewish spiritual life, testimony to the existence of a Jewish community in Syracuse among the oldest in the Mediterranean.
HISTORIC SITE SEEING
Largo XXV Luglio
Ortigia, Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$
The Temple of Apollo is one of the most important ancient Greek monuments of Magna Graecia on Ortygia, in front of the Piazza Pancali. Dating to the 6th century B.C., this temple is one of the most ancient Doric temples in Sicily, and among the first with the layout consisting of a peripteros of stone columns. This layout became standard for Greek temples.
PORTA URBICA
HISTORIC SITE SEEING
Via XX Settembre
Ortigia, Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$
The Porta Urbica or the Urbica Gate was built by Dionysius the Great to create a gateway to his fortress of the Ortigia. The Porta Urbica with a length of thirty kilometres used to run from Ortigia to the Eurialo Castle and now the ruins can be identified from the excavation of Via XX Settembre. You can see the base of the two quadrangular eight meter towers here; the towers give access to the forked road connecting the temple of Athena and Apollo. The uniqueness of the Urbica Gate lies in the fact that it’s the only fortification that speaks on behalf of the Dionigian era.
HISTORIC SITE SEEING
Piazza del Precursore,
Ortigia, Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$
The church of San Giovanni Battista was built in the 14th century on top of another early Christian Basilica from the 4th century. It has a beautiful 15th-century portal, a rose window, and the top of the facade which are not in line with each other, due to the changes the church has undergone over the centuries, especially in the 18th century. It also has two bell towers on the left of the building, which are now roofless.
CASTELLO MANIACE
HISTORIC SITE SEEING
Via Castello Maniace 51,
Ortigia, Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$
Maniace Castle was built between 1232 and 1240 during the rule of Frederick II, the Holy Roman Emperor. It is situated at the extreme point of the island of Ortigia, on which the ancient city of Syracuse was located, it protected the harbor and city of Syracuse.
SITE SEEING
Ortigia, Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$$
Navigate around Ortigia Island, on a scenic cruise. See beachfront landmarks like Castello Maniace, and sail into the peculiarly shaped sea caves on the north side of the city.
CATACOMBE DI SAN GIOVANNI
HISTORIC SITE SEEING
Via S. Giovanni alle Catacombe 1
Siracusa, SR 96100, Italy
$
The Catacombs of St. John are an important historical testimony of the Christian period: they were built between the fourth and the sixth century AD, on the remains of an old Greek aqueduct. They were used as an early Christian cemetery, related to the presence of the former aqueduct, the old water tanks were transformed in the Christian period into private funerary chapels reserved to the powerful, the clergy, and the Roman patricians. They are the second largest in Italy after those of Rome. They were also used as air-raid shelters during the Second World War, which is why currently there are no bones to be found in the site.
HISTORIC SITE SEEING
Noto, SR 96017, Italy
$
Set in the Sicilian countryside outside of Noto, the Roman Villa of Tellaro is home to a few striking mosaics dating from the fourth century that depict intricate hunting scenes and stories from Greek mythology. Ancient history buffs will especially enjoy a visit to this carefully preserved site with its spectacular original floor.
