Fontane Bianche is a beach resort area on Sicily’s south-eastern coast, around 15 km south of Syracuse, centred on a sheltered bay of fine white sand beneath white cliffs. Its exceptionally clear, gently shelving turquoise water is fed by freshwater springs rising from the seabed, making the beach especially suitable for children.
Dressed in understated elegance and furnished with pleasing modern flair, Grand Hotel Sofia offers a refined retreat just outside Noto, the birthplace of Sicilian Baroque. Comfortable rooms, inviting outdoor spaces, a splendid pool, spa and Il Limoneto Restaurant create a quietly relaxing setting for enjoying authentic Sicilian cuisine.
In the ancient heart of Ortigia, Cortile Spirito Santo expresses the essence of the Mediterranean through a contemporary culinary language. Chef Giuseppe Torrisi’s seasonal menu draws on Sicilian seafood and meat traditions with refined technique and a touch of innovation, served in the restored 17th-century Palazzo Salomone’s elegant open-air courtyard overlooking the Church of the Holy Spirit.
Agua is the common denominator between Caribbean beaches and Baroque cities, between relaxation and a thirst for adventure! Its strategic location allows you to easily reach Noto with its historical wonders, Marzamemi with its breathtaking sunsets, the unspoiled nature of the Vendicari Reserve, and the enchanting panorama of San Lorenzo.
The Necropolis of Pantalica is a vast UNESCO World Heritage site in southeast Sicily, where nearly 4,000–5,000 rock-cut tombs honeycomb the limestone cliffs above the Anapo and Calcinara valleys. Dating chiefly from the 13th to 7th centuries BC, the Sikel stronghold also preserves the Mycenaean-influenced Anaktoron and later Byzantine rock dwellings and oratories.
Set in an ancient nineteenth-century palazzo overlooking the sea of the Gulf of Ortigia, Henry’s House combines comfort and luxury with warm, family-style hospitality. Its strategic location, panoramic views and helpful staff make it an excellent base for exploring Siracusa and the enchanting island of Ortigia.
Beyond the Basilica of San Giovanni, the Catacomba di San Giovanni opens into a main gallery lined with thousands of burials. Richly decorated tombs, vivid frescoes—including the Syracusan Virgin crowned by Christ—and monumental cisterns transformed into chapels make this an evocative testament to early Christian expression in Sicily.
At the tip of Ortygia’s promontory, Castello Maniace is a striking citadel built between 1232 and 1240 by the Emperor Frederick II. One of Syracuse’s most important Swabian-era monuments, it is also among the best-known castles associated with his reign.
Though Ortigia is now a tourism hot-spot, much of the historic centre remains residential, and its lively, friendly market continues to serve local people as it has for centuries. With its abundance of fresh food, it is a must-see for anyone drawn to Sicily’s rich and colourful food history.
The Temple of Apollo is one of the most important ancient Greek monuments of Magna Graecia, standing on Ortygia in front of Piazza Pancali. Its fascinating ruins mark one of the first temples built by the Greeks in Syracuse in the early sixth century BC, and are regarded as the oldest Doric temple in Sicily and the oldest stone temple in the West.