Ortigia & Greek Theatre Private tour from Syracuse cruise port

The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary stands on the elevated part of the island of Ortigia and is considered the most important church in the city of Syracuse. It has become part of the heritage protected by UNESCO.

It is located on the island of Ortigia in Syracuse and it is a historical and architectural testimony of great value.The temple, dating back to the early 6th century BC, is certainly the oldest Doric temple in Sicily.

This Fonte is an integral part of the city's history and it is a place where reality and legend meet. Today, this source of freshwater that flows at the seashore, forming a small lake inhabited by fish and plant species, is one of the island's main tourist attractions.

On the extreme tip of the island, you will find this fortress that has protected the city for eight centuries and that is among the most important monuments of the Swabian period.

This church appears to be built in two different styles: the lower part with beautiful reliefs of the Spanish coats of arms, while the decoration of the upper part recalls the wooden panels frequent in Sicilian sacristies.

Originally built by the Arezzo family, it was the headquarters of the Queen's Chamber and also the city Senate. It is one of the most representative Palazzo of Baroque Ortigia.

Current headquarter of the Municipality of Syracuse, this palazzo preserves in its basement notable remains of an Ionic temple from the 6th century BC. The Vermexios, a family of architects of Iberian origin, left an unmistakable mark on the city's architecture.

In the center of the square stands the beautiful Diana fountain by the sculptor Giulio Moschetti from 1906, which tells the legend of Aretusa. The nymph is depicted in the act of fleeing from Alpheus who, with outstretched arms, tries to grab her.

The Greek Theatre represents the greatest example of theatrical architecture of the Greek West. It has the peculiarity of being almost entirely dug into the rock. In addition to performances, the theatre was used for popular assemblies.

This is an artificial cave, dug into limestone and its particular shape, similar to an auricle, and its acoustic characteristics, led Michelangelo di Caravaggio to nickname it "Ear of Dionysius".