Syracuse city break

Syracuse is located in the south-east corner of the island of Sicily, right by the Gulf of Syracuse next to the Ionian Sea. The city is famous for its rich Greek history, culture, amphitheatres, architecture and association to Archimedes, playing an important role in ancient times as one of the top powers of the Mediterranean world; it is over 2,700 years old. The city was founded by Ancient Greek Corinthians and became a very powerful city-state. Syracuse was allied with Sparta and Corinth, exerting influence over the entire Magna Grecia area of which it was the most important city. Once described by Cicero as “the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all”, it later became part of the Roman Republic and Byzantine Empire. After this Palermo overtook it in importance, as the capital of the Kingdom of Sicily..
In the modern day, the city is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site along with the eight towns belonging to the Baroque District (Caltagirone, Militello Val di Catania, Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo, Ragusa and Scicli), the Necropilis of Pantalica, the Roman Villa del Casale in Piazza Armerina, the Aeolian Islands and the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento.
In the central area, the city itself has a population of around 125,000 people. The inhabitants are known as Siracusans (Siracusani in Italian), and the local language spoken by its inhabitants is Italian language and Sicilian dialect. Syracuse is mentioned in the Bible in the Acts of the Apostles book at 28:12 as Paul stayed there.
The patron saint of the city is Saint Lucy; she was born in Syracuse and her feast day, Saint Lucy’s Day, is celebrated on 13 December.
Main sights to visit: the Neapolis or Archaeological Park, the Archaeological Museum, Ortigya with the Arethusa Fountain, the Cathedral, the Church of Santa Lucia alla Badia with its Caravaggio painting The Bury of St. Lucy, the Castello Maniace, Palazzo Vermexio the current Town Hall, the Bellomo Gallery with the Annunciation of Antonello da Messina, the Castle of Euryalos, built nine kilometres outside the city by Dionysius the Elder and which was one of the most powerful fortresses of ancient times. It had three moats with a series of underground galleries which allowed the defenders to remove the materials the attackers could use to fill them.
Syracuse has a pleasant night life in its historical heart of Ortigia with a wide range of restaurants, trattorias and pubs.