Siracusa

Rich in Greek and Roman History this lively and atmospheric town encapsulates Sicily with its gorgeous medieval streets that open up to beautiful piazzas and down to the crystal blue waters

Siracusa (or Syracuse in the UK) is a fine cultural town with plenty of historical importance. Located in the south eastern coast of Sicily means it faces Greece and therefore has many Greek archaeological sites. The most notable of these is the theatre that dates back to around the 5th century BC. It is thought to be the largest ever built, hosting upto 15,000 spectators and still in use to this day.

One of the must sees in this region is the island of Ortygia, a truly wonderful UNESCO heritage site. Wander the streets and take in the Piazza del Duomo and the wonderful Cathedral, soaking up the atmosphere with a gelato watching the world go by. The island is also home to the daily street market where you can buy an array of fruits, cheese, fish, meat, vegetables, wine and many other Sicilian delicacies. The restaurants on the island are almost all touristy, however, there is plenty of reasonably priced choices.

Siracusa's coastline is considered to be some of the most beautiful in Sicily, with long stretches of bright white sandy beaches such as the Fontane Bianche (15km away) and Vendicari to name but a few, as well as the area being surrounded by some lovely nature reserves with lush vegetation and wildlife.

Catania airport is about 1 hours drive away and there is direct trains from here to Rome which takes around 10 hours. Siracusa is a good base for exploring the south eastern region of Sicily, including the Baroque towns of Noto, Modica, Scicli and Ragusa, as well as further up the coast of Catania & Taormina.