Island of Ortigia — Attraction in Syracuse

This glowing review about Ortegia has one huge proviso which I will come to in a moment! You really do want to know if you're coming here😊... Ortegia is one of the most beautiful places I have been to in the world. It reminds me of Florence, Venice or Rome at night , but with more atmosphere, every street or side alley aglow with fairy lights and a small row of tables for one of many incredible little restaurants with superb food. People everywhere relaxed, happy and enjoying themselves. There is thousands of years of history everywhere you look, enough cute little boutiques and interesting curios shops to keep you busy for ever it would seem.

I haven't come to the proviso yet, but as an aside I'd like to say a huge thank you to the staff and owner at Celestina a water front restaurant on the Marina e Foro Vittorio Emmanuele II who saved our holiday by rescuing my wife's handbag when it was left on the front with cash, cards, passport and everything to cause an absolute disaster if you had not been so honest and caring to hold it safely until opening the next day. THANK YOU😊🙏. Cannot praise this act of honesty enough and so deserves this high praise. The food and wine and the music (which at times is live providing a great vibe) was amazing too 😊

Onto the proviso then... There is what I call a tourist tax in Ortegia (not the city tax you'll pay for each night you stay here at €2 a night per person) no, this is a tax which you will not know about unless you know the place intimately, it's called ZTL, it means if you bring a car onto the Island, invariably you will fall foul of the ZTL fine, I say a tourist tax because when you speak to the locals the time when it is active changes to deliberately catch you out. You cannot register to pay in advance on the island, you must walk half an hour into Siracuse itself to the main police station "Polizia - Ferroviaria- Siracuss, Piazzale della Stazione Centrale" Which of course you will not want to do when you are on holiday. There is another way they tell you... "Take your car to the valet parking" 🧐 "They will register your number plate for ZTL and you will have nothing to worry about" 👀🤔 Only the fact you must hand over your €100,000 hired car for a piece of paper, "you understand the car will not be kept on the island... elsewhere" they tell you "oh? Where" "Just in Siracuse" no location is forthcoming, so I'm assuming roadside somewhere they know there is no parking fee leaving you open to a side swipe by a scooter or a wing mirror hooligan😓... "Can I see your insurance for driving the vehicle whilst it is with you" "No, we are insured, it's ok" 🫣😰 It's obviously not ok to be charged €90 for 3 nights parking not knowing where your car is. for all I know there is some Italian taking his girlfriend for a spin, getting parking fines and speeding tickets and doing donuts in a carpark at 3am in the morning and running the fuel to zero, or maybe being paraded through an auction whilst I'm sleeping 🤷😅 but apart from my imagination running wild in the middle of the night you have no choice or pay the ZTL €70 for every time you pass a camera... Every time!!! Which if you drive round the block to stop the vibrant local leaning on his horn because you're letting the kids out of the car will cost you a pretty penny. A very pretty penny 😮‍💨 anyway... I told you you'd want to know. Enjoy Ortegia, leave your car off the island, take a bus, take a bike, walk... Just don't bring...

Isola di Ortigia in Siracusa is a charming escape, where historical allure meets Mediterranean tranquility. Stroll through the picturesque streets, lined with Baroque architecture, and discover the lively markets showcasing local crafts and delicacies. The iconic Cathedral of Siracusa, a majestic amalgamation of various architectural styles, stands as a must-visit landmark. Take a leisurely walk along the waterfront promenade, enjoying panoramic views of the Ionian Sea. Indulge in the island's culinary delights at seaside trattorias. Isola di Ortigia offers a delightful blend of history, culture, and culinary delights, making it a captivating destination for those seeking an authentic...

Our favourite Sicilian town! We spent a month in Ortigia and either did day trips to other towns or did a daily/night walk every day through the streets of Ortigia. Such a beautiful town to stroll around. The many restuarants are well rated in general with plenty of shops selling, gelato, Italian wine and local produce. The open air markets are good for fruit and veg, but go early. The cruise ships are regular but not every day but explore at night after everyone leaves, it's lovely. The train and bus station are a short walk from anywhere on the Island. Unfortunately, like all the other towns, rubbish, feral cats and people leaving dog poo on footpaths...