Siracusa, founded by the ancient Greek Corinthians, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Famous for its rich history, culture, and amphitheatres, the city boasts of having one of the largest concentrations of Greek ruins outside of Greece! It is also the birthplace of Archimedes, the greatest mathematician in classical antiquity and one of the greatest of all time.
Our excursion will begin in the modern part of the city with a tour of the superb Archaeological Park of the Neapolis with its majestic Greek Theatre, Altar of Hieron II, Ear of Dionisyus, Roman Amphitheatre, and stone quarries.
Next we will wander around the charming, medieval, and narrow streets on the island of Ortigia, the historic centre also known as Città Vecchia (Old City). We will view many romantically-crumbled Baroque palaces and churches including the Duomo, the oldest Doric style temple built in Sicily and one of the most extraordinary buildings in the world. We will also visit the Church of Santa Lucia alla Badia to admire The Burial of Saint Lucy, one of Caravaggio‘s masterpieces. Recently restored in Rome, the painting is a deeply moving experience for every viewer. Our day ends at the fresh water spring of Aretusa, where papyrus still grows abundantly and whose history goes back to the earliest Greek colonists.