Ortygia

1128 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

5/5

Review type

Destination

Location

Date of travel

October, 2017

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Solo

Reasons for trip

As part of an eight day trip to Sicily with Riviera travel we had a full day to explore Ortygia by ourselves.

Ortygia is a small island off the coast from Siracusa and joined to it by three bridges. It was founded by Corinthian colonists who landed on the island around 734BC, being attracted by the plentiful supply of fresh water. The island was easily defensible with good natural harbours on both sides and was on one of the major trade routes of the Mediterranean. It quickly flourished becoming a rich commercial city and major regional centre. It was even bigger than Athens and Corinth.

The remains of the wall and gateway built by Dionysis the Great can still be seen on via XX Septembre. There isn’t a lot left of the Temple of Apollo on Piazza Pancalli , which is one of the oldest Greek Temples in Sicily and even older than those in the “Valley of teh Temples.”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/otherholidays/sicily/day_two/two_two/index.html

In 211BC, the Romans took control of the area, being followed by the Byzantines and then the Arabs in 878AD. The Byzantines were responsible for converting the Temple to Athena into a “Cathedral”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/otherholidays/sicily/day_six/six_four/index.html cathedral and 2500 years later it is still possible to see part of the
original Greek masonry.

The Church of San Lucia alla Badia is built over C4th catacombs which are the largest to survive outside Rome.

The Normans took the island from the Arabs and were responsible for building the impressive fortress of Castello Maniace, at the tip of the island. They were replaced by Spanish rulers.

In the middle ages there was a substantial Jewish population living in the city, including wealthy merchants and bankers. In 1492, the Spanish King Ferdinand II, gave the Jews an ultimatum – convert to Catholicism or sell off your assets within three months and leave. Many left. Five hundred years later, many of the old buildings still have cellars with the remains of the mikveh or ritual baths. One of the “best”:http://www.italymagazine.com/featured-story/ortigias-jewish-ritual-baths to surviveis that beneath Hotel Alla Giudecca on Via Alagona. The synagogue became the “Church of St Paul the Apostle”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/otherholidays/sicily/day_six/six_three/index.html .

From then onwards, Ortygia’s fortunes declined and from being the largest and most important city in Sicily, it became little more than a provincial town. Famine, earthquakes and plague reduced the population. After the 1693 earthquake there was a programme of massive Baroque reconstruction as can be seen in some of the splendid palazzios and also buildings around Piazza del Duomo.

By the C20th the population of Ortygia had fallen and many of the buildings were disused and in poor condition. Since becoming a World Heritage Site in 2005 money has poured in to restore the churches and buildings, although there is still a lot of work to be done and several of the churches are still waiting restoration. It is again becoming a desirable place to live and prices are rocketing.

Ortygia needs to be explored on foot and it is impossible to get lost as nowhere far from sea with views across to Siracusa on the mainland. There is a grid pattern of streets with narrow alleyways lined with tall buildings, running off them. Don’t miss the wonderful fruit and vegetable “market”:https://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/review/place/193607-review-ortygia on Piazza Pancali and via de Benedictis.

The Cathedral is stunning and Piazza del Duomo is considered to be one of the most beautiful squares in Sicily. As well as its catacombs, the Church of San Lucia alla Badia is renowned for its “Caravagio painting”:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burial_of_St._Lucy_(Caravaggio)#/media/File:Burial_of_Saint_Lucy-Caravaggio_(1608).jpg above the altar, a typically dour painting so typical of him. (They don’t allow photography )

Near the sea front is the fresh water fountain, Fonte Aretusa, which was one of the sources of fresh water for the early city. According to legend, the nymph Arethusa was a handmaiden of the goddess Artemis who wanted to escape from the persistent advances of Alpheus, God of Rivers, who was madly in love with her. She asked Artemis for help and was transformed into a fresh water spring. Depending on the legend, Alpheus is either still trying to find her or else he located Aretusa and changed into a spring so their waters could mix together. Papyrus grows in the centre of the fountain, the only place it is found in Sicily. This is a popular spot with seats to sit and enjoy the surroundings.

With only a day I just scraped the surface and didn’t have time to visit any of the museums. I also didn’t have chance to see anything of Siracusa or its “Archaeological Park”:https://wanderwisdom.com/travel-destinations/The-Archaeological-Park-Siracusa-Sicily with its Greek Theatre, Roman amphitheatre and other remains….

There are lots more pictures and information about Ortygia “here.”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/otherholidays/sicily/day_six/index.html here.

The full report for the eight days in Sicily is “here”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/otherholidays/sicily/index.html .

ESW

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.