Ortigia Pearl of Siracusa Private Walking Tour

The ruins of the Temple of Apollo is one of the most ancient Greek temple that dates back to the VI BC.
Lots of conquers passed through this temple.
After the Greek and Roman temple of Apollo, it became the Byzantine Church, then the Muslim Masque, then Norman Basilica and Spanish barrack for soldiers.
And each epoch left particular elements in it.

Picturesque street of Dione hides the remains of medieval architecture of gothic and baroque splendor.
Ortigia was destroyed after the earthquake of 1693 and then in the XVIII century rebuilt again in the beautiful Late Sicilian Baroque style.
You will admire a marvelous fusion of Baroque and Neo-classical elements

The Montalto Palace of XIV centure is the best example of Gothic Catalan style.
Built in the second half of the XIV century by local baron Macciotta Merrgulensi in the typical Gothic Catalan Style.
It represents still half defensive structure on the first floor and beautiful lancet windows on the second floor.
Near the palace, you can see the rGreek ruins of the housing dated back to the V century BC.

The square of Archemedes hides the history of the local nobility who in the XVIII century decided to create this square.
You will see a magnificent fountain of Diana, the goddess of hunting, surrounded by sirens and marine animals and you will find out the ancient Greek myth of Aretusa the goddess of water.
The beautiful palace of the Clock hides behind the gate XIV century staircase of Gothic Catalan style and will remind you about Romeo and Juliet

Explore Jewish neighborhood with medieval structure and find out where the mikweh and sinagoga were located
Up until their expulsion by the Spanish sovereign in 1492, Jews constituted a very important portion of Syracuse
The Jewish neighborhood was located in “Via della Giudecca." Here arose not only homes but also the seat of the community: the synagogue, the schools, the kosher butchers’ shops and bakeries.
This quarter included everything that was of service to the Jewish community.
Many buildings were constructed around a courtyard at the center of which, according to ancient custom, soared a palm tree and a citrus tree that, in several cases, still survive today.

XIX century City Theatre was a centre for the plays and opera during the XIX - XX centuries and still house the modern theatre.
It was built by military engineer Breda in the area liberated by knocking down the church and monastery “Dell’Anninziata and the Palace of Prince della Cattolica.
It seems that the mixture of sacred and profane didn’t benefit the building whose construction was marked by endless, heated discussions

The open, airy space of Piazza Duomo is the real heart of Ortigia; around the unusually shaped perimeter, the building will tell us the history of Siracusa.
The oldest traces of settlements on Ortigia are found here and you will see them.
In the sacred acropolis of Greek Siracusa, the greatest and the most famous temple dedicated to Athena built around 480 BC that was transformed into the Christian church in the 7th century.
You will see the 17th century Townhall and the Cistercian church of S. Lucia built in the XV and rebuilt after the earthquake in the beautiful Sicilian baroque style

The cathedral is the most striking and fascinating monument that combines an ancient Doric temple with a roman style interior, a baroque facade and decoration to create a unique style of structure.
You will enter inside the Cathedral and will see the columns of the ancient temple of the V century dedicated to Athena that was transformed in the Christian church.
The fine polychrome marble pavement created in the XV century re-used ancient marbles.
You will admire the magnificent and beautiful chapel of Sacrament and the Chapel of Saint Lucy that is crowned with a cupola.

The miraculous Fountain of Aretusa is a place where myth, history and nature meet.
The basin of the Spring of Arethusa has been altered, it was initially in direct contact to the sea and it maintains the fascination of the mythical association of the waters with the eternal illusions about beauty and love.
A vital resource for settlers over the centuries.
The Spring is also the testimony of the myth of Alpheus and Arethusa, recorded most famously by the writer Ovid