Historic Centre of Syracuse, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005: History and Places to Visit

The historic centre of Syracuse is the heart of the ancient Greek colony founded over two thousand years ago and, since 2005, it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage list together with the Necropolis of Pantalica. This recognition is not just a formal label: it means that the streets, squares and monuments you encounter here hold a universal value, capable of telling the story of the Mediterranean better than any textbook.

Walking through Ortigia, the island that hosts the historic centre, means moving through a space where every era has left a tangible mark. The Temple of Athena transformed into a cathedral, the Fountain of Arethusa tied to ancient myths, the Maniace Castle watching over the harbour, the Greek Theatre of the Neapolis still in use today for performances: every corner shows how Syracuse has been a crossroads of cultures and powers.

It is no coincidence that UNESCO decided to protect not only the monuments but the entire urban and landscape fabric that connects them. Visiting the historic centre of Syracuse means coming into contact with the continuity of its history, but also with the daily life that still animates the streets, markets and squares of Ortigia.

Syracuse and UNESCO: the Recognition that Tells 3,000 Years of History

Since 2005, the historic centre of Syracuse has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage list together with the Necropolis of Pantalica. The decision does not concern a single monument but a whole that shows the continuity of a city capable of spanning more than three millennia of history.

The criteria chosen by UNESCO highlight precisely this: the value of Greek and Roman remains, the Byzantine and Arab influence, the imprint left by the Baroque after the 1693 earthquake. All these elements coexist in the same urban space and explain why Syracuse was one of the most important cities of the ancient Mediterranean.

The recognition therefore concerns both Ortigia, the heart of the historic centre, and the archaeological area of the Neapolis and the valley of Pantalica. A single site that brings together architecture, urban planning and landscape, showing how the history of Syracuse is not made up of separate eras but of a continuous dialogue between different cultures.

Ortigia: the Heart of the Historic Centre of Syracuse

Ortigia is the island where the historic centre of Syracuse was founded. Here the Greeks established their colony in 734 BC and since then every era has left a visible trace. Narrow streets, squares, churches and fortifications tell the story of the many peoples who inhabited the city: Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Spaniards.

Walking through Ortigia means encountering traces of this long history at every step. Some monuments have changed function several times, adapting to the needs of those who governed the city, but without ever losing the memory of their origins.

The Cathedral: from Temple of Athena to Baroque Cathedral

The Cathedral of Syracuse is one of the clearest examples of this stratification. Built as a Doric temple dedicated to Athena, it was converted into a Christian church and later modified in Byzantine, Arab and Norman times. After the 1693 earthquake, the Baroque façade gave the monument the appearance we know today, but the Doric columns of the original temple are still visible, recalling the Greek roots of the city.

The Fountain of Arethusa

Just a few steps away lies the Fountain of Arethusa, linked to the myth of the nymph transformed into a spring by Artemis. Today it is a small pool of freshwater just a few metres from the sea, where papyrus grows and ducks swim.

The Maniace Castle

On the opposite side of the island rises the Maniace Castle, a fortress built in the Swabian period to control access to the harbour. Its strategic position recalls the military importance of Syracuse over the centuries, while the fountain continues to evoke the legendary dimension that has always accompanied the island.

The Archaeological Park of the Neapolis: the Spectacle of Ancient Syracuse

The historic centre of Syracuse does not end in Ortigia. Just outside the city walls lies the Neapolis, the large archaeological park that preserves some of the most representative monuments of the ancient city. Here you find the most spectacular concentration of Greek and Roman heritage, which contributes to the UNESCO recognition.

The Greek Theatre is the most famous element: carved into the rock, it hosted tragedies and comedies as early as the 5th century BC and is still used today for classical performances. Next to it stands the Roman Amphitheatre, built in imperial times for gladiatorial combats, and not far away is the Ear of Dionysius, an artificial cave traditionally linked to the tyrant of Syracuse.

These places show the cultural and political power of Syracuse in the ancient Mediterranean. They are not just monumental remains but spaces that testify how art, performance and power were integral parts of public life. It is precisely this continuity of meaning that UNESCO wanted to protect, recognising in the Neapolis Park a fundamental piece of universal heritage.

The Necropolis of Pantalica: the Other Face of Syracuse’s UNESCO Heritage

The UNESCO recognition of Syracuse also includes the Necropolis of Pantalica, a site about thirty kilometres from the city. Here, along the walls of the valleys carved by the Anapo River, there are more than five thousand rock-cut tombs dating back to the Bronze Age.

Pantalica represents the oldest side of Syracuse’s UNESCO heritage. It is not an urban area like Ortigia or the Neapolis, but a natural landscape that preserves the traces of communities that lived thousands of years ago. The necropolises, with their regular openings in the rock, show the ability of prehistoric populations to adapt to the territory and to organise collective spaces for the cult of the dead.

The link with Syracuse lies precisely in this historical continuity. On the one hand the island of Ortigia and the monuments of the Greek and Roman city, on the other the tombs of Pantalica: two poles that complement each other in telling the development of a civilisation and that together form a UNESCO site of outstanding universal value.

Visiting the Historic Centre of Syracuse, a World Heritage Site

The historic centre of Syracuse is a place best experienced on foot. You do not need long journeys to go from the sea to the squares, from ancient ruins to Baroque churches: everything is concentrated in a relatively small area, but full of historical layers. Visiting Syracuse as a UNESCO site means exactly this: moving slowly through places that reveal the city from different perspectives.

An Ideal Itinerary between Ortigia, Neapolis and Surroundings

The route can start in Ortigia, the heart of the historic centre. Here the Cathedral, the Fountain of Arethusa and the Maniace Castle immediately give you the sense of the historical stratification that characterises Syracuse. Walking through the alleys, stopping at the market and strolling along the seafront allows you to grasp the daily dimension of the district as well as its monumental one.

Those who choose to stay in the centre, as a guest of our Hotel Algilà overlooking the sea of Ortigia, can experience this atmosphere just a few steps from the city’s most significant landmarks.

After Ortigia, the next stop is the Neapolis, the large archaeological park with the Greek Theatre, the Ear of Dionysius and the Roman Amphitheatre. It is the most spectacular part of the ancient city and also the one that helps to understand the political and cultural role of Syracuse in the Mediterranean.

Those who have more time can continue on to the Necropolis of Pantalica. Here the scenery changes completely: no streets or squares, but natural canyons with thousands of tombs cut into the rock. Visiting Pantalica completes the UNESCO experience, showing the link between nature and human settlement in a landscape that has preserved the memory of prehistoric communities.

Tips for a Complete Visit

The historic centre of Syracuse is easy to explore on foot. Ortigia is largely pedestrian and it is worth dedicating at least half a day to this district alone. The Neapolis, on the other hand, requires comfortable shoes and more time, as the archaeological areas are extensive and visited outdoors. Pantalica is more challenging to reach and to walk through, but it offers direct contact with both nature and archaeology.

The Historic Centre of Syracuse: a Heritage that Must Be Protected

The historic centre of Syracuse is not only a place to visit but a heritage that requires constant protection. The UNESCO inscription recognised its universal value, but this recognition also entails a responsibility: to preserve monuments, urban spaces and landscapes for future generations.

Tourism pressure, a fragile natural environment and the need for ongoing maintenance make the protection of Syracuse a current challenge. Visiting the historic centre with care and respect means contributing to this safeguard: choosing walking routes, relying on local guides, respecting monumental spaces and supporting organisations that work responsibly.

Experiencing Ortigia and the Neapolis with awareness does not only mean admiring the past, but also taking part in its preservation. Every visit thus becomes a way to keep alive a site that tells three millennia of history and remains one of the most representative symbols of the ancient Mediterranean.