Discover the picturesque island of Ortigia, Siracusa in two days. This tiny, walkable island has breathtaking views at every turn; stunning Baroque architecture; beautiful beaches and delicious traditional Sicilian foods. The perfect vacation destination!
I recently spent two days exploring the island of Ortigia, Sicily. In this post I’ll share with you the sights we visited; what we did as well as the fabulous food we enjoyed!
Whether you are a history buff and want to take in the stunning Baroque architecture; explore the quaint narrow streets; sit back and enjoy a granita and brioche; browse in some of the lovely shops on the Corso Giuseppe Matteotti or swim in the clear blue sea; you can do all of that within the same day on this island.
Ortigia left me totally enchanted and is, in my opinion, one of the most picturesque towns in Sicily I have seen thus far. There is beauty everywhere you turn just begging to be explored!
Where is Ortigia?
Located in the province of Siracusa, on the east coast of Sicily, the island of Ortigia is the historical centre of the city of Siracusa. It is connected to the mainland by two short bridges. This island is only approximately 1 km long by 500 meters wide and therefore can explored entirely by foot.
How we got there
We picked up our rental car at Fontanarossa Airport in Catania. Siracusa is approximately 100 km south of Catania and this is an easy drive on the highway.
Before arriving in Ortigia, we explored the Neapolis Archeological site approximately 3 km away. Upon arrival in Ortigia, we parked our car in a local paid parking lot, about 400 meters away from our hotel, and explored the island by foot.
Where we stayed
Unfortunately I did not get any photos of our accommodations, however here is the view from our third floor room at the Apollo Suite Ortigia.
We were directly across from the Temple of Apollo ruins with the Origia market right next to it.
The Apollo Suite is located right over the bridge as you enter Ortigia and therefore is the perfect location from which to visit the entire island. Find out more here.
The rooms were larger than average (by European standards); clean and modern. And there is a wonderful breakfast buffet with sweet and savory options served each morning by the charming Simona.
After having feasted at the buffet she surprised us with this fresh almond granita and brioche at the end of breakfast. We almost considered skipping lunch on this day, almost…but not quite!
What to see in Ortigia
There is plenty to see in Ortigia: Baroque architecture; churches; museums; beaches; charming restaurants; bars; gelaterias and shops. But my favorite part was exploring the narrow, winding streets wondering what delight I’d stumble upon at the next turn!
Neapolis Archeological Park
Before crossing over onto the island of Ortigia, plan on visiting the Neapolis Archeological Park located about 3 km away.
This archeological area is a Unesco World Heritage sight containing Greek and Roman ruins including a Greek theatre from the 5th century; a Roman amphitheater as well as the famous Ear of Dionysius .
We spent about 1 1/2 hours exploring the beautiful lush grounds of this site and purchased an audio guide along with our entrance ticket. Check out their website here for information on hours of operation; purchasing tickets and more.
Do wear comfortable shoes as the ground is rocky and uneven. Wear a sunhat and bring plenty of water as it gets quite hot if you’re visiting during the summer months.
Mercato di Ortigia
We began our first morning with a stroll in the bustling Ortigia market located across the street from us, right next to the Temple of Apollo ruins. The market is open Monday to Saturday from 7:30 to 2:00pm.
The market is a combination of the usual touristy stalls filled with souvenirs followed by a row of food stands. Here you’ll find a wide variety of food vendors selling fruits and vegetables; cheeses; herbs and spices; olives and fish and seafood. The sights and aromas and the colorful displays of fresh produce are quite enticing!
You may also grab a bite to eat in the market with plenty of sweet and savory options. Had I not overindulged at breakfast that morning I most certainly would have sampled a panino at the popular Caseificio Borderi, oh well next time!
A casual stroll through this charming market is a must when visiting Ortigia!
Fontana di Diana
The Fountain of Diana depicts the Roman goddess of wild animals and the hunt, who was also the protector of Ortigia in ancient times. It is located in Piazza di Archimede just up the road from Corso Giacomo Matteotti, a lovely boutique lined street (in case you were interested in doing some shopping!).
Cattedrale di Ortigia and Piazza Duomo
Built over the site of the 5th century Temple of Athena, the Cathedral of Ortigia (Duomo) is a stunning example of Baroque architecture.
Located in the Piazza Duomo made entirely of white stone, this is no doubt one of the most beautiful piazzas in all of Italy. You’ll find Santa Lucia alla Badia church in the south corner of the square. And right across from the cathedral is the beautiful Palazzo Beneventano del Bosco.
I strongly recommend you visit this square both during the day as well as after dark. During the day you can appreciate the architectural details of these magnificent buildings. However after dark, as the dimly lit piazza comes to life, the atmosphere is quite enchanting!
Bagni Ebraici (Jewish Baths)
This is the sight of the oldest Jewish baths in all of Europe dating from the 6th century and unearthed only in the 1980s. Located just below the Residence Hotel Alla Giudecca in the area once inhabited by Jewish residents of Ortigia, known as Giudecca, the ancient Jewish baths (called mikveh) are located 30 feet below ground level.
You can take a 30 minute tour of this sacred location and learn more about the Jewish residents of Ortigia and their traditions. Access is by a 48 step steep stone staircase which leads to a large room entirely excavated in the stone where three baths are located.
Photos of this sacred place are not permitted therefore I have only included a photo of the entrance. Find out more information about opening hours and location here.
Fonte Aretusa
The Fonte Aretusa is a unique natural spring located right next to the sea. Here papyrus grows and the fountain is inhabited by fish and ducks. The story behind this fountain is inspired by Greek mythology about the nymph Aretusa. Learn more about it here.
Castello Maniace
Located at the southern tip of of Ortigia island, Castello Maniace is a citadel and castle built under the rule of the Roman Emperor Frederick II between 1232-1240 in order to protect the port and city of Siracusa. You may visit with a guided tour, find out more information here.
We chose to forego visiting the castle as we had already spent an entire morning walking under the hot sun and at this point we were ready for lunch! You can also get an exceptional view of the castle with a boat tour of the island. More info about that experience coming next.
What to do in Ortigia
Ortigia boat door and visit of sea caves
There are numerous boat tours available in Ortigia and our choice was the perfect combination of a visit of the sea caves; a tour around the island and the opportunity to jump into the clear blue see in order to cool off.
I highly recommend this 2 hour tour where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a glass of Prosecco while taking in all of the beauty of this magnificent area!
Beaches
Ortigia has several small beaches around the island. But these are not your ordinary wide, sandy beaches. They are small rocky nooks located all around the island where you can sunbathe and jump into the sea.
Ortigia Restaurants
And finally, we get to my favorite part, food! You can indulge in Sicilian specialties everywhere you turn in Ortigia: at the market; bars; gelaterias; takeaway spots for Sicilian rosticceria; or sit down restaurants. Reservations are recommended.
Of course, in two days there are only so many places we could possibly try. Therefore I definitely can’t offer you a long list of suggestions, but only the Ortigia restarants I sampled and enjoyed.
- La Bracioletteria (Via Consiglio Reginale, 29): serves a delicious selection of braciolette, a specialty from Messina. These are small rolls of meat or fish filled with a breadcrumb and cheese mixture and grilled.
- While my family enjoyed their meat rolls, I was craving eggplant and opted for a shared plate of an eggplant appetizer trio consisting of eggplant parmigiana; caponata and bobbia (similar to peperonata). And as a main a generous serving of pasta alla Norma topped with plenty of grated ricotta salata. I highlly recommend this quiet spot located on a small side street with gorgeous views.
- Davè: a quaint, quiet spot in a small square located at Via della Giudecca, 75, this was the perfect lunch choice! We enjoyed a light lunch of grilled octopus as a starter and salads as a main course. The perfect not too heavy meal right before we headed for our boat tour that afternoon.
- Casa Trimarchi (Via Laberinto,1): a charming restaurant located in a quiet lane in the heart of Ortigia, not too far from the cattedrale. Here we feasted on more eggplant; pasta with fried zucchini, swordfish and mint; and baccala with cherry tomatoes; potatoes and olives. As usual, we were too full to even consider dessert. Another perfect dinner!
- Alas, there wasn’t enough time to enjoy all the places on my to try list, but next time I will definitely head to Antica Giudecca (a small takeaway shop located at Via della Giudecca, 26) to sample some of Sicily’s best street food!
Thank you Nadia – a wonderful tour, pictures are simply perfect and I felt as though I was right there with you. I also wanted to lick the page when I saw the delicious food!
Thank you Anna, it was truly magical and I recommend adding this island to your itinerary if you’re ever in Sicily!
Hi Nadia, Thank you so much for sharing your lovely trip! I really enjoyed the pictures and all the info. I hope to visit Caltanesetta, Sicily some day, the home of my Grandma Giordano. What an amazing island.
Thank you Jeanne! I hope you get to visit your nonna’s home in Sicily and if you get the chance I do recommend you add Ortigia to your itinerary!
We visited Ortigia right before the pandemic hit (around Spring 2019) and we absolutely loved it!! We saw all the same places you mentioned, except I didn’t see the Bagni Ebraici. I’m sorry I missed it and obviously need to go back! We stayed one week and did day trips, but mornings and late afternoons/evenings in Ortigia is magical. The piazza is phenomenal and I agree, one of the loveliest in Italy. Visited it every night. The duomo, Fonte Artesua, etc. all were visited again and again. We found a Michelangelo exhibit just walking the small streets! I would absolutely love to go back to Sicilia, and especially Ortigia. My husband’s grandparents emigrated from the Agrigento province in 1910’s.
Hi Cathy, I agree with you, Ortigia is magical both during the day and night. Thank you for your comment!