Syracuse (Siracusa)

Syracuse (Siracusa) is an ancient Greek city on the southeast coast of Sicily. The main attraction is Ortigia, the old town island connected to the mainland by a short bridge, where the Duomo was built directly into the columns of a 5th-century-BC Greek temple. The narrow streets around the cathedral have restaurants, small shops, and views over the harbour. The Arethusa Fountain, a freshwater spring by the sea, has papyrus plants growing in it. The Neapolis Archaeological Park, a short taxi ride from the port, has one of the largest Greek theatres in the world (still used for performances in summer) and the Ear of Dionysius, a limestone cave with unusual acoustics. Shops follow Italian hours: open in the morning, closed for lunch, open again in late afternoon. Granita with brioche is the traditional Sicilian breakfast and is available at most cafés. The currency is the euro, and a few words of Italian go a long way.