Are you going on holiday to Syracuse in Italy? Would you like to know where the best sightseeing attractions in Syracuse are? Our guide to sightseeing in Syracuse gives you the facts & information you’ll want to know.
Syracuse is one of the oldest continually inhabited places in all of Italy. Archaeologists place the first settlement in Syracuse at around 800 BC which makes Syracuse nearly three thousand years old. Today, Syracuse is a small town with a population of only about 120,000; however, the rich history of Syracuse is evident in many of the historical sightseeing opportunities that are to be found around the city. Below we’ve mentioned just a few interesting things to do in Syracuse.
Syracuse Cathedral
The Cathedral in Syracuse is probably one of the oldest in Italy as the original structure upon which it is built used to be a Greek temple dating back to the 5th century BC. The Cathedral is open for the public to view and is probably a good place to start a sightseeing tour of Syracuse as it is quite centrally located.
Paulo Orsi Archaeology Museum
The Paulo Orsi Archaeology Museum is dedicated to exhibiting archaeological artefacts excavated not only from Syracuse, but further a field. In fact this museum is believed to have probably the most extensive and interesting collection of both Roman and Greek artefacts anywhere in Italy. This museum in Syracuse is open daily and admission costs €4.50.
Syracuse Neapolis Archaeological Park
The Syracuse Neapolis Archaeological Park is a massive excavation site that provides an excellent idea of what life must have been like in Syracuse in Roman times. Admission to this park costs €4.50 and enables you to roam around almost anywhere on the site. Highlights of a visit to this sightseeing attraction in Syracuse include the Greek theatre which dates back to the 5th century BC. There is also a Roman amphitheatre which is nearly 2000 years old, and would have been used for gladiatorial battles.
Syracuse Museum of Medieval & Modern Art
As the name would suggest, this museum is dedicated to displaying art from the medieval period right up to modern day contemporary art. There is an emphasis on local art although one can find quite an eclectic mix in this museum in Syracuse which has an excellent collection of sculptures as well as paintings.
