Holidays to Sicily – Syracuse, a Southeastern Paradise

Holidays to Sicily are on many people's "bucket list", and for good reason. Every year, travellers from all over the globe come to this Mediterranean island (as well as its smaller surrounding islands), drawn by its sunny climate, breathtaking scenery, many gorgeous beaches, cultural diversity, scrumptious cuisine, and historical, architectural, and artistic treasures. In fact, this island boasts no fewer than six UNESCO World Heritage Sites. From the Valley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi) in Agrigento, which comprises the most well-preserved Grecian temples in the world, to Mount Etna in Catania, one of the largest (two and a half times as large as Mount Vesuvius) and most active volcanoes in the world, holidays to Sicily promise non-stop adventure and endless surprises.

For lovers of history, Syracuse should definitely be on the itinerary. The entire city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. Named for its abundance of water, Syracuse was once the home of Archimedes and was described by Cicero as being "the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all". Despite being nearly three millennia old, Syracuse retains much of its ancient heritage and the treasures that made it one of the greatest cities of the Magna Graecia. Below, we present a few ‘must-visit’ attractions in Syracuse. Any holidays to Sicily would be incomplete without experiencing these wonders.

The Necropolis at Pantalica

One of the most amazing attractions is the necropolis at Pantalica. Both an environmental wonder and an archaeological treasure, the necropolis at Pantalica is one of the most extraordinary burial sites in the world. The site includes, among other things, the remains of an ancient royal Mycenaean palace (called the Anaktoron). It is situated on a hilltop, with underground caves housing more than 5,000 tombs dating back to 13th century BCE, which bear clues as to both how these ancient citizens lived and died. Offsetting these macabre images is the immense natural beauty of Pantalica itself—a natural oasis supporting an explosion of rare colourful flora (orchids, in particular).

The Archaeological Park

Holidays to Sicily give travellers the opportunity to see various historical amphitheatres, but none are more impressive (or more historically significant) than the Greek amphitheatre in the Syracuse Archaeological Park, upon which Aeschylus once produced his plays. One of the largest in the world, it can seat 15,000 spectators and is still used for the city’s annual Greek theatre festival. The neighbouring 1st century Roman amphitheatre, which once featured gladiators battling against wild beasts or fellow gladiators for the (morbid) amusement of blood-thirsty viewers, is equally impressive.

Piazza Duomo

Visiting historical sites doesn’t have to be all sombre and morbid. For a change of pace, head to the Duomo, a cathedral that has been a place of worship, in one form or another, for nearly three millennia. It began existence as a temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena and currently functions as a shrine to Santa Lucia, the patron saint of the region. The square is also the centre for the twice-yearly citywide festival celebrated by locals in honour of their beloved patron saint.

Helen Forbes is from Essential Italy, a company specialising in Italian holiday villas, apartments and hotels. If you’re looking for the perfect villas for your holidays to Sicily, it can be made so much easier with our help. Our handpicked villas offer distinctive Italian qualities, great comfort and convenience.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.