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Neapolis Archaeological Park of Syracuse

Neapolis Archaeological Park of Syracuse: Our most recommended tours and activities

From Catania: Syracuse, Ortygia, and Noto Tour

1. From Catania: Syracuse, Ortygia, and Noto Tour

Enjoy three beautiful places in Sicily with this full-day tour from Catania. Listen to historical facts and facinating anecdotes with your audio guide as you stop at the Neapolis Archaeological Park, Ortygia, and Noto.  Meet your driver in Duomo square in the center of Catania and sit back and relax in the comfortable van on the drive to the Neapolis Archaeological Park in Syracuse. Purchase tickets to the park to admire the magnificent Greek theater, Roman Amphitheater, and stone quarries. Continue to the ancient fortified island of Ortygia. Spend some time wandering the streets to discover the mythical Fountain of Arethusa, Piazza Duomo, the fortress walls, and stunning Baroque churches and palaces. Finally, drive to the town of Noto where you can discover the Sicilian capital of Baroque architecture. Have some free time to see sights like the Fountain of Hercules, and noble palaces like Palazzo Astuto and Palazzo Trigona Cannicarao. Return to the meeting point in Catania.

Syracuse: Neapolis Archaeological Park Tour

2. Syracuse: Neapolis Archaeological Park Tour

Meet your certified guide at the entrance gate of the Neapolis Archaeological Park and visit the most important ancient Greek and Roman monuments in Syracuse. Discover the history and archaeological importance of this ancient Greek sight from your knowledgeable guide. During your walking tour, see the ancient Greek theatre, cut in the rock of the Temenite Hill, and explore the "Latomie del Paradiso", an ancient stone quarry with beautiful local flora. Next, marvel at the legendary "Ear of Dionysius", located inside the quarries. Be amazed by this grotto famed for its shape and echoing sounds. Finish your tour with a visit to the altar of Hieron and the Roman amphitheater.

Syracuse: Ortigia and Neapolis Guided Walking Tour

3. Syracuse: Ortigia and Neapolis Guided Walking Tour

Explore ancient Syracuse on a 3-hour guided tour and learn about early Greek history through architecture and religious practices. The evidence of Syracuse as capital of the Mediterranean is ever-present, and seen in the glory of its Cathedral, the ancient Temple of Athena, the Greek Theater and the Roman Amphitheater. Admire the beauty of the Cathedral of Syracuse, which incorporates the pagan Temple of Athena. Learn about its various architectural styles from your guide. Continue to the Archeological Park to see the Paradise Latomia and the Ear of Dionysos. Enjoy the beautiful views of the Ionian Sea from the Greek Theater.

Syracuse, Ortygia and Noto Full-Day Tour from Catania

4. Syracuse, Ortygia and Noto Full-Day Tour from Catania

Learn the ancient history of Sicily on a full-day sightseeing tour that takes you to the archaeological park of Neapolis where you can visit classical monuments of Greek and Roman Syracuse at your own pace on a self-guided tour. Following a pick-up from your accommodation in Catania, transfer to the ruins of Syracuse, now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During your walk, discover many old Roman streets, as well as monuments such as the Greek Theatre, whose cavea is one of the largest ever built by the ancient Greeks. Near the Greek Theatre, you will see the latomie, including the limestone cave known as the “Ear of Dyonisius,” as well as the Christian Church of San Nicolò ai Cordari. Admire the Amphitheatre of the Roman imperial age, and more. Then, continue to Ortygia Island to experience the historic heart of Syracuse. Located at the park’s eastern end, and separated by a narrow channel, Ortygia is filled with Greek temples, Christian churches, and Arabian streets. Visit the Arethusa fountain and Piazza del Duomo, where the baroque palaces, such as Beneventano del Bosco Palace and Senate Palace are among the most beautiful in Sicily. After lunch (own expense), go to the small town of Noto, noted for its unique style of Sicilian Baroque architecture, and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002. Wander the open-air museum and beautiful Corso Vittorio Emanuele to admire the many palaces and churches that, grouped together, are known as the “Stone Garden.”

Palermo: Bus Tour to Noto, Ortigia, and Siracusa

5. Palermo: Bus Tour to Noto, Ortigia, and Siracusa

Explore the beauty of Sicily on this bus tour from Palermo. Be picked up from your accommodation and enjoy air-conditioned transfers to the town of Noto, the island of Ortigia, and and the Archaeological Park of Siracusa. Enjoy the convenience of being picked from Palermo in the morning. Sit back and relax on the comfortable drive to the town of Noto. Spend some time wandering through the town on your own to see sights like the 18th-century Noto Cathedral or the balconies of the Nicolaci Palace. Continue to the the island of Ortigia. Take some free time to buy lunch or see sights like the natural freshwater spring known as the Fountain of Arethusa or the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Cathedral of Syracuse. Finally, head to the Archaeological Park of Siracusa where you can purchase tickets to see the Greek theatre and the Roman amphitheater. Return to your accommodation in Palermo at the end of your tour.

Syracuse: Greek Theater and Neapolis Guided Private Tour

6. Syracuse: Greek Theater and Neapolis Guided Private Tour

Visit one of the largest Greek theaters in the Mediterranean, the Ear of Dionysus, the Latomie, and the Cordari Cave with a guide. Step back in time as you learn about the history and myths of the Neapolis Archaeological Park. If you choose a tour in Italian, attend the show Il mito di Aretusa. After reaching the entrance of the Neapolis in Syracuse, you will meet our guide waiting for you. You will carry out a short briefing, where the origins of this city will be explained to you and then enter inside the archaeological park of Neapolis. Here it will be possible to visit the Latomie, the ancient stone quarries from which the material for the construction of the city has been extracted for centuries. Formerly places of heavy work and imprisonment, today the Latomie have changed their faces by covering themselves with greenery.  Visiting the latomie you will meet the legendary Ear of Dionysius, known for its typical shape and for its particular acoustics. You will be told the story of the tyrant Dionysius and the legend of this cave. You will continue with the view of the Grotta dei Cordari and then reach the Greek Theater. From the upper terrace you can admire the suggestive Fountain of the Nymphaeum and the wonderful panorama overlooking the large port. After leaving the theater, you will move to the Altar of Hieron II, the largest stone altar built in the Greek world. The last monument you will visit in Neapolis is the Roman Amphitheater. At this monument the guide will show you the Roman phase of the city, the characteristics of the building and the particularities of the gladiatorial games.

From Taormina: Siracusa & Noto Small-Group Tour

7. From Taormina: Siracusa & Noto Small-Group Tour

Start your day at 8:00 AM with a pickup from the pre-arranged meeting point in Taormina. Once you have enjoyed a pleasant meet-and-greet with your driver, head to Syracuse, taking in all the sights along the way.  Your first stop of the day will be the archaeological park of the Neapolis. Here, you'll be able to admire the site's Greek and Roman heritage by witnessing landmarks such as the Greek Theatre, the Ear of Dionysius and the Latomie. Afterwards, you will move to the lovely Ortigia Island, the historical centre of Syracuse which is connected to the city by a short bridge. Here, you will walk through the alleys and the squares of the old town discovering its landmarks, starting from the ruins of the temple of Apollo, to the Cathedral and the Arethusa Fountain. During your visit of Ortigia, a light lunch with local products will be offered; alternatively, you could decide to have lunch on your own. The last stop of your day will be Noto, which is considered the capital of the Sicilian Baroque. You will have 1-hour to visit the historical centre of the city by yourself before enjoying your relaxing car ride back to Taormina by 6:30 - 7:30 PM.

From Catania: Syracuse, Ortigia & Marzamemi Full-day Tour

8. From Catania: Syracuse, Ortigia & Marzamemi Full-day Tour

Experience the beauty of Sicily on a full-day tour from Catania. Explore the ancient ruins in Syracuse, the charming fishing village of Marzamemi, and the Island of Ortigia. Meet in the center of Catania and travel to Marzamemi, a small fishing village looking out over the Ionian Sea. Visit the ruins of the Tonnara, an ancient structure used to catch tuna. See an abundance of colors, flowers, and old buildings as you stroll down Piazza Regina Margherita. Take a break by the sea on the "Litorale Spinazza", which can be reached on foot from the Borghetto. Continue to Ortigia, a little island that contains the oldest part of the historic center of Syracuse, starting from the Greek period. Visit the wonderful Fountain of Arethusa, Piazza Duomo, as well as the Christian churches and the Baroque Palaces. Finally, go to the Neapolis Archaeological Park in Syracuse. Discover an open-air museum containing evidence from various eras, from the protohistoric age to the late ancient and Byzantine periods.

Syracuse: Ortygia & Neapolis Archaeological Park Guided Tour

9. Syracuse: Ortygia & Neapolis Archaeological Park Guided Tour

The guided tour of Syracuse will make you discover the historic center located on the island of Ortigia and the Nepolis. Let's start from one of the two bridges that connect Ortigia to the mainland, the Umbertino Bridge with a visit to the Temple of Apollo which dates back to 580 BC. and represents the oldest Doric temple in all of Sicily. We continue in the heart of the island discovering piazza Archimede square, dedicated to the great Syracusan mathematician, with the beautiful Diana Fountain. Walking through the alleys we arrive at piazza della Minerva square, made of white limestone with beautiful buildings that overlook the square. The most important building is the Cathedral of Syracuse dedicated to the Nativity of Mary Most Holy, founded on the remains of the ancient Temple of Athena of which some columns that re-emerge from the walls of the church are still visible both on the external side but above all by visiting the Cathedral at the internal. The imposing façade is built in Baroque and Rococo style and is surrounded by other beautiful buildings overlooking the square, such as the Palazzo del Vermexio seat of the Town Hall, Palazzo Beneventano and the Church of Santa Lucia alla Badia, which preserves inside the splendid work of Caravaggio "The burial of Saint Lucia". We continue the guided tour walking towards the sea admiring the Fonte Aretusa, an unusual mirror of fresh water inhabited by fish and ducks and where papyrus plants grow. A few meters away we find the Alfeo seafront, where we conclude the first part of the visit, the oldest stretch of seafront on the island where you can admire the beauty of the sea that surrounds Ortigia and the imposing Maniace Castle, a fortress dating back to the Swabian period that in past it was prison and military barracks. We move to the Archaeological Park of Neapolis with the visit that starts from the Church of San Nicolò ai Cordari of the eleventh century and in the lower part where we find the Roman Pool, large water tanks dug into the rock with pipes that brought the water to the Roman amphitheater for nautical games and water fights. The nearby Roman amphitheater dating back to the Augustus era was in fact used for various shows, the most famous of which were the fights between gladiators: it has an elliptical structure carved into the rock and is spread over three levels. We continue our visit with the Altar of Hieron, the immense altar dedicated to Zeus where the sacrifices of the bulls took place. The guided tour continues towards the Latomie del Paradiso, quarries used for the extraction of stone, of which we will visit the most important, the Ear of Dionysus. The cave is 23 meters high and is very impressive due to the exceptional echo inside it. We conclude the visit to the Nepolis admiring the beautiful Greek theater carved into the stone, the most famous and important monument of the archaeological park, built by the Greeks and renovated by the Romans.

Sicily: 7-Day Sicilian Culture and Art Tour

10. Sicily: 7-Day Sicilian Culture and Art Tour

Day 1 After getting picked up at Catania Airport, enjoy a welcome aperitif in the company of your local guide in Catania. Afterward, enjoy a walking tour of the city during which you will see iconic landmarks such as the Duomo Square, The cathedral fi Saint Agatha, Roman Amphitheatre, and Bellini Park. Day 2 Start your day with a light trek on Europe's most active volcano, Mount Etna. After your trek, re-energize with a traditional Italian lunch at a family-run restaurant. You will also be able to sample some local wines from the Etna region. After lunch, enjoy some free time to explore the town of Taormina at your own pace before heading up to Castelmola, where you can sample the region's famous almond wine served with delicious biscuits. Finish the day by watching the breathtaking sunset in the village of Savoca, one of Italy's prettiest villages and the setting for the Godfather movie. Day 3 Today, enjoy a guided tour of the city of Syracuse, including a visit to the island of Ortigia. Here, admire landmarks such as the Cathedral of Saint Lucy, Caravaggio, Archimedes Square, and the Fountain of Aretusa. Afterward, move onto Neapolis Archaeological Park where you can admire the Latomie del Paradiso, Greek Theatre, Roman Amphitheatre, and  The Ear of Dionysius. Stop for lunch in the town of Noto, a baroque-style town with elegant churches and sprawling palaces. In the afternoon, enjoy a chocolate-making masterclass in the oldest chocolate factory in Sicily before heading to the picture-perfect town of Ragusa Ibla, where you will spend the night. Day 4 Start your day at the Villa del Casale in Piazza Armerina, where one of the largest and richest collections of Roman mosaics in the world awaits you. Afterward, head to the Valley of Temples, where you will discover one of the greatest examples of Greater Greece's art and architecture. Enjoy some free time to explore this sprawling temple complex, with 7 ancient Greek temples. Day 5 In the morning, head to the coastal town of Marsala to sample the town's namesake wine. Learn how to differentiate this unique fortified wine by its amber color and unique scent. In the afternoon, head to the Trapani Salt Museum. Here, learn more about salt production methods in the area and admire a unique landscape dotted with over 100 mills, some of which are still in function. Finish the day with a stroll around the medieval town of Erice, a historic and charming town located in the Sicilian hills. Day 6 Today, you will be visiting the towns of Palermo and Monreale, both of which are famous for their Byzantine-style mosaics. In Palermo, visit the 12th-century cathedral and immerse yourself in the city's vibrant history and culture. In Monreale, admire the fine mosaics in the town's great Norman cathedral. Afterward, take in panoramic views of the surrounding valley, filled with orange, olive and almond trees. Day 7 Spend your last day in Sicily at the seaside town of Cefalu. Spend a few hours getting lost in a maze of tiny streets and ice-cream shops before heading Castelbuono, a picturesque village hidden in the Madonie Mountains. Get dropped off back at the airport at the end of your trip.

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What people are saying about Neapolis Archaeological Park of Syracuse

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 328 reviews

Giuseppe was an excellent guide providing my wife and I with a wonderful afternoon exploring all of the treasures of Syracuse’s Archeological Park as well as the must-see attractions of Ortigia. As a University of Catania-educated Archeologist he was a font of information on the history of Sicily and Syracuse and all of the various structures and sights that we visited. Engaging, intelligent and spirited, Giuseppe made sure we visited all of the important sights in the area and then brought them to life - highly recommended.

Nando was very helpful, courteous and was an excellent guide. We got to understand Sicily better because of his explanations and knowledge.

The tour guide was very knowledgeable and the Greek Theatre was so interesting to visit. I recommend this tour.

All very interesting, NANDO excellent guide and driver, all perfect

Overall nice trup across several beautiful cities.