Things to do in Syracuse
A journey through history,
science and culture
Discovering Syracuse means exploring not only its places, but also its ideas.
A route through archaeology, art, landscape and scientific thought
Things to do in Syracuse
a journey through history,
science and culture
Discovering Syracuse means exploring not only its places,
but also its ideas.
A journey through archaeology, art, landscape and scientific thought
If you are looking for the best things to do in Syracuse, the answer cannot be limited to a single place. The city’s identity has been shaped by the meeting of the ancient Greek world, centuries of transformation, the Baroque architecture of Ortigia, the Mediterranean and an extraordinary scientific legacy inextricably linked to Archimedes.
Discovering Syracuse also means going beyond a simple list of monuments. To truly understand the city, you need to explore not only its places, but also its ideas: to observe what remains of ancient Syracuse, recognise the layers of history that have transformed Ortigia and rediscover the scientific thought that originated here and gave rise to some of the most important insights in history.
A visit to Syracuse can therefore become a journey through archaeology, art, landscape, science and culture, revealing a city far more complex than it may appear at first glance.
If, however, you only have a limited amount of time, you can follow our itinerary for visiting Syracuse in one day, complete with suggested times, stops and route, click here!
Syracuse: a city to be read in layers
Few cities allow visitors to move through so many different periods of history in the course of a single day.
Syracuse still preserves the traces of the great Greek polis that was, for centuries, one of the most powerful cities in the Mediterranean. The Roman and Byzantine periods followed, along with medieval dominations and, finally, the urban transformations that gave Ortigia the appearance we know today.
Walking through the historic centre, within just a few metres you can encounter the columns of an ancient Greek temple, Baroque palaces, medieval architecture and views of the sea.
Yet alongside this extraordinary physical layering lies another, less visible one: the history of ideas.
Syracuse is, in fact, the city of Archimedes, one of the most important figures in the history of mathematics and science.
Understanding Syracuse therefore means considering not only what the city built, but also what it thought.
Neapolis: stepping into ancient Syracuse
The Neapolis Archaeological Park is one of the essential places to visit in order to understand the grandeur of ancient Syracuse.
The Greek Theatre, the ancient stone quarries known as the latomie, and the famous Ear of Dionysius reveal the monumental scale of a polis that played a central role in the Mediterranean for centuries.
For this reason, Neapolis is the ideal place to begin your journey: first the ancient city, then its historic centre and, finally, the ideas that were born here.
For up-to-date information on opening hours, tickets and visiting arrangements, please consult the official website of the Neapolis Archaeological Park.
Paolo Orsi Regional Archaeological Museum: discovering the city through its artefacts
The Paolo Orsi Regional Archaeological Museum houses one of Sicily’s most important archaeological collections and offers an in-depth exploration of the history of Syracuse and its surrounding area through prehistoric, Greek and Roman artefacts.
A visit ideally complements the experience of Neapolis: while the Archaeological Park reveals the monumental scale of the ancient city, the Paolo Orsi Museum tells the story of its daily life, material culture and development through the objects uncovered during archaeological excavations.
To explore the archaeological history of Syracuse and find information about the collections, opening hours and visiting arrangements, please consult the official website of the Paolo Orsi Regional Archaeological Museum.
Ortigia: the historic heart of Syracuse
Once you cross the bridge, Syracuse changes character.
Ortigia is best explored on foot, from the Temple of Apollo and Piazza Archimede to Piazza Duomo, the Cathedral, the Arethusa Spring and the sea.
Among the districts that reveal the island’s deepest identity is the Giudecca, Syracuse’s historic Jewish Quarter. Its streets, courtyards and traces of the Jewish community add another layer to the history of Ortigia, showing how different cultures contributed over time to shaping the city.
Different historical periods coexist within just a few steps, and it is precisely this layering that makes the island much more than simply a historic centre: it is a place where the history of Syracuse remains visible.
At the same time, in the heart of Ortigia you encounter another dimension of the city: its scientific heritage.
Archimedes: understanding Syracuse through ideas
““Visual reconstruction created with the support of Artificial Intelligence.””.
Syracuse has left temples, theatres and fortifications to history. Yet one of its most important legacies is not made of stone./span>
It is the thought of Archimedes
Observation, questioning and verification thus become tools of knowledge: an approach that, allowing for the necessary historical distinctions, recalls the empirical method.
To discover more about the life, ideas and discoveries of the great Syracusan scientist, visit our I Am Archimedes section and explore his story in greater depth.
Archimedes and Leonardo Museum: The Genius Who Inspired Another Genius
In the heart of Ortigia, the Archimedes and Leonardo Museum of Syracuse now offers a thoroughly renewed visitor experience, shaped by a new cultural and scientific vision. Through models, machines and in-depth content devoted to the history of science, visitors enter the tangible world of the principles that connect the thinking of Archimedes with that of Leonardo da Vinci.
Leonardo’s presence within the museum is based on a specific historical and scientific relationship. Archimedes was an important model for Leonardo’s study and research: Leonardo actively sought manuscripts of his works and referred to him in his own notes and codices.
In Manuscript B, Leonardo attributes the “architronito” to Archimedes; the Codex Atlanticus also contains studies connected with the Archimedes screw and systems for raising water. Leonardo’s research into centres of gravity likewise reveals his engagement with the Archimedean tradition.
For further information: Museo Galileo – Leonardo’s Library / studies on Archimedes; Treccani – Leonardo da Vinci and Archimedes
““The images included on this page are provided for illustrative purposes. Some visual content has been created or reworked with the support of Artificial Intelligence.””
Through working models, machines and in-depth explanations, visitors can observe how seemingly abstract principles become clear and understandable.
The value of the experience does not lie simply in operating a machine, but in understanding why it works and which principle governs its movement.
In this way, the Museum tells the story of a continuity in scientific thought that spans the centuries, from antiquity to the Renaissance, offering an experience designed for those who wish to observe, question and understand.
To plan your visit, check the tickets and opening hours for the Archimedes and Leonardo Museum, as well as all other useful information.
Piazza Duomo and the Cathedral
Piazza Duomo is one of the places where the historical layering of Syracuse can be seen most clearly.
The Cathedral incorporates the remains of the ancient Temple of Athena: its Greek columns are still visible both inside the building and along its outer walls.
Antiquity and the Baroque therefore do not simply stand side by side: they coexist within the same monument.
For this reason, Piazza Duomo provides one of the clearest expressions of the city’s identity.
Arethusa Spring: myth and the Mediterranean/span>
Just a short walk from Piazza Duomo lies the Arethusa Spring, a freshwater spring associated with the myth of the nymph Arethusa and the river god Alpheus.
The spring is one of Ortigia’s most recognisable landmarks and remains deeply connected with Syracuse’s mythological tradition. The presence of papyrus plants, unusual in a European urban setting, makes this corner of the city particularly distinctive.
Here, papyrus, water and the sea reveal another side of Syracuse: its profoundly Mediterranean character.
From here, it is natural to continue along the waterfront towards the southern tip of Ortigia.
Maniace Castle: Ortigia facing the sea
At the southern tip of the island, Maniace Castle adds the medieval and military dimension of Syracuse to the journey.
Its position stretching out towards the sea immediately reveals the strategic importance that Ortigia held over the centuries.
It is also one of the best places to conclude the route, especially in the late afternoon, when the changing light over the Mediterranean transforms the appearance of the city.
Before visiting, it is advisable to check current opening hours and admission arrangements on the official page dedicated to Maniace Castle.
The journey through the city of Archimedes continues
In the heart of Ortigia, the Archimedes and Leonardo Museum illustrates the continuity of scientific thought between Archimedes and Leonardo da Vinci through models, machines, and in-depth insights.