Things to Do in Syracuse & Ortigia

Syracuse's old town, Ortigia, is a small island connected by two short bridges, with a baroque cathedral built directly into the columns of a Greek temple — you can still see them in the walls. The Neapolis archaeological park across the modern town holds the Greek theatre and the Ear of Dionysius, a limestone quarry cave with genuinely odd acoustics; buy a combined ticket rather than two separate ones. About an hour from Catania, it's easily a full day on its own, and a good base for Noto or Vendicari the next day rather than a rushed add-on.