The ancient heart of Syracuse

This bird's-eye view lets us take in the charms of Ortygia, a small island just offshore from Syracuse, on Sicily’s east coast. Ortygia is considered Syracuse's ‘old town’ and the historical heart of the city. A narrow channel separates the island from Syracuse and two bridges connect Ortygia to mainland Sicily. Ancient Greeks first colonised this island in the 8th century BCE, and the town is brimming with 2,700 years of history. Walk Ortygia’s web of narrow streets and you’ll see Greek and Roman ruins, medieval Norman buildings and examples of Baroque architecture as well.
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