"Siracusa" Siracusa by Polly74

Located near the southeastern corner of Sicily on the Ionian coast, Siracusa is built on an ancient Greek settlement founded by Corinthians in 734 BC.
More than any other modern city in Sicily, Syracuse manifests a visible continuity from its ancient Greek past, both historical and mythological. Its older quarter is an island, Ortegia (or Ortygia, from the Greek for "quail," probably named for that bird's abundance in this area).
Ortegia is known for, among many other things, the freshwater Spring of Arethusa. When Artemis changed Arethusa into a spring of water to escape the river god Alpheus, it was here that the transformed maiden emerged.

The Harbour

If Palermo offers more medieval monuments than any other Sicilian city, Syracuse is unsurpassed for its ancient architecture and warm people.

There are beaches nearby, and there's no shortage of good restaurants in Syracuse, but we suggest you avoid those that offer "tourist menus" in favor of the charming pizzerias and seafood restaurants. The seafood specialties are seasonal to some extent. The pasta dishes with mussels and urchins are especially tasty but more available in Spring and Fall than Summer.