Just a few kilometres from the centre of Syracuse, the landscape changes quickly. Dense colonies of papyrus grow along the banks of the Ciane River, an unusual sight in Europe and one of the most distinctive features of this nature reserve. The Ciane River and Syracuse Salt Pans Oriented Nature Reserve protects both the river and the nearby wetlands of the former salt pans, but one of the easiest ways to explore the area is to follow the trail along the Ciane to its source. The walk is short...

Entering Ortigia from Corso Umberto I, the Temple of Apollo is one of the first monuments you come across. Today, only a few columns, part of the cella and other elements of the original structure remain, but in the 6th century BC this was one of the most important temples of ancient Greek Syracuse and one of the earliest examples of Doric architecture in Sicily. To really understand what you see today, however, you need to look beyond the ruins. Over the centuries, the Temple of Apollo was...

Since July 2026, a bronze helmet standing in front of Porta Marina has recalled a story that began almost three thousand years ago. It is the Helmet of Archias in Syracuse, an artwork by Stefania Pennacchio dedicated to the colonist who left Corinth and is associated with the foundation of the city. The choice of location connects past and present: Porta Marina once marked one of the entrances to Ortigia, while the helmet recalls the Greek origins of Syracuse. To understand the meaning of...