Siracusa and Noto,
told by those who know them.

At the entrance to the island, the oldest stone Doric temple in the Greek West: the starting point for reading the layers of Ortigia.

A glimpse into the ancient Jewish quarter, in front of the 14th-century facade of Palazzo Montalto, a Gothic-Chiaramontano gem that survived the earthquakes.

Ortigia's 19th-century drawing room, around the Fountain of Diana, between the surrounding palaces and the memory of the most celebrated of Siracusans.

The most beautiful baroque square in Sicily and the Cathedral that incorporates the columns of the Temple of Athena, with the backdrop of Santa Lucia alla Badia.

The freshwater spring overlooking the Porto Grande, with its papyrus plants and the myth of Arethusa and Alpheus.

The walk along the Alfeo towards the tip of the island, between the open sea and the mass of Castello Maniace (exterior view).

The colours and voices of the historic market, then into the maze of streets between palaces and hidden courtyards.

At the entrance to the island, the oldest stone Doric temple in the Greek West: the starting point for the story of Ortigia.

The 19th-century drawing room around the Fountain of Diana, between the palaces of the centre and the memory of the greatest of Siracusans.

The heart of the ancient Jewish quarter: the Gothic-Chiaramontano facade of Palazzo Montalto, Via della Giudecca and the Chiesa di San Filippo Apostolo, down to the underground Jewish bath — the Miqveh carved into the rock, among the oldest in Europe (optional internal visit, ticket not included) — and the small Chiesa di San Giovannello.

The most beautiful baroque square in Sicily and the Cathedral that incorporates the columns of the Temple of Athena: you can go inside to read the Greek, Norman and baroque layers from within (optional internal visit, ticket not included).

The baroque jewel overlooking the square, linked to Caravaggio's canvas of the «Burial of Saint Lucy».

The freshwater spring overlooking the Porto Grande, with its papyrus plants and the myth of Arethusa and Alpheus.

Frederick II's Swabian fortress on the far tip of the island, where Ortigia closes itself to the open sea (exterior view).

The return walk along the Alfeo promenade, between the sea and the palaces overlooking the water.

The colours and voices of the historic market and one last wander through the streets, courtyards and shops of the centre.

The ancient stone quarries turned into a garden of citrus trees and magnolias, from which the Greeks extracted the city.

The ear-shaped cave with extraordinary acoustics, named — so the story goes — by Caravaggio.

One of the largest in the ancient world, entirely carved out of the rock: Aeschylus staged his tragedies here. It still comes to life every summer.

The colossal monumental altar, almost 200 metres long, where the city's public sacrifices were held.

The arena of the imperial games, partly carved into the living rock.

The ancient stone quarries turned into a garden of citrus trees and magnolias, from which the Greeks extracted the city.

The ear-shaped cave with extraordinary acoustics, named — so the story goes — by Caravaggio.

One of the largest in the ancient world, entirely carved out of the rock: Aeschylus staged his tragedies here. It still comes to life every summer.

The colossal monumental altar, almost 200 metres long, where the city's public sacrifices were held.

The arena of the imperial games, partly carved into the living rock.

A short move from the archaeological side (north-west) to the island (south-east): the two Siracusas touch.

At the entrance to the island, the oldest stone Doric temple in the Greek West: the starting point for the story of Ortigia.

The 19th-century drawing room around the Fountain of Diana, between the palaces of the centre and the memory of the greatest of Siracusans.

The heart of the ancient Jewish quarter: the Gothic-Chiaramontano facade of Palazzo Montalto, Via della Giudecca and the Chiesa di San Filippo Apostolo, down to the underground Jewish bath — the Miqveh carved into the rock, among the oldest in Europe (optional internal visit, ticket not included) — and the small Chiesa di San Giovannello.

The most beautiful baroque square in Sicily and the Cathedral that incorporates the columns of the Temple of Athena: you can go inside to read the Greek, Norman and baroque layers from within (optional internal visit, ticket not included).

The baroque jewel overlooking the square, linked to Caravaggio's canvas of the «Burial of Saint Lucy».

The freshwater spring overlooking the Porto Grande, with its papyrus plants and the myth of Arethusa and Alpheus.

Frederick II's Swabian fortress on the far tip of the island, where Ortigia closes itself to the open sea (exterior view).

The return walk along the Alfeo promenade, between the sea and the palaces overlooking the water.

The colours and voices of the historic market and one last wander through the streets, courtyards and shops of the centre.

We pick you up at the B&B and set off: private transfer to Noto through the south-eastern countryside.

The monumental arch that opens the city, a dramatic entrance to the baroque axis.

Noto's baroque axis, a theatrical backdrop of churches and palaces in the same golden stone.

At the top of its staircase, overlooking the Corso, with a solemn interior.

The Benedictine monastery with an elegant oval interior: you go inside to read the Noto baroque up close (internal visit included).

With its belvedere tower; optional internal ascent (ticket not included) for the view over the rooftops of Noto.

The symbol of Noto, which collapsed in 1996 and was rebuilt over ten years, at the top of the grand staircase; optional internal visit (ticket not included).

The famous balconies held up by carved brackets: mermaids, lions, horses, cherubs.

The tree-lined breathing space of the city around the Fountain of Hercules and the Municipal Theatre.

A free stop in the courtyards and historic cafés, among the shops on the Corso, when the stone catches fire with gold in the afternoon.

Private transfer back to the B&B.