On this Ortigia Island Guided Tour, you'll wander through the labyrinth of alleys and streets of Syracuse's historical centre. You'll also discover places steeped in history and see beautiful temples, palaces, churches and fountains.
Description
At the indicated time, we'll meet at Largo XXV Luglio, located in front of the Temple of Apollo. This iconic building dates back to the beginning of 6th century B.C. and is considered to be the oldest Doric temple in Sicily. This temple is also one of the earliest architectural examples in Western Europe of the transition from a wooden to a stone temple.
After discussing the history of this fascinating temple, we'll head to the Church of San Filippo Apostolo to explore its crypt, which was used as an air-raid shelter during the Second World War.
We'll then head to Piazza Archimede, where we'll observe the Fountain of Diana, created in 1906 by the Piceno sculptor Giulio Moschetti. This iconic sculpture illustrates the mythological tale of the nymph Arethusa fleeing from Alphaeus under Diana's protection.
The next item on our guided tour will be the Cathedral of Syracuse. This magnificent building was built in the 17th century by incorporating the Baroque cathedral into the main Doric temple of the Syracusan polis, which was dedicated to the Roman goddess Minerva.
In addition, we'll see the enchanting Arethusa Fountain, a circular pool of water around which the precious papyrus plants grow. Like the Fountain of Diana, this place is also linked to the myth of Arethusa and Alphaeus, which we'll discuss during the tour.
After 2 hours exploring the history of Syracuse's ancient island, we'll finish our guided tour of Ortigia and say our goodbyes.
