Province of Syracuse: Ortigia, Noto, Vendicari

The province of Syracuse lies in southeastern Sicily; its capital is Syracuse. It is a Libero Consorzio Comunale with 21 municipalities on about 2,125 square kilometers and roughly 382,000 inhabitants (ISTAT-based figures, 2026). It is known for the ancient city of Syracuse and the necropolis of Pantalica (UNESCO World Heritage since 2005), the Baroque town of Noto, the Vendicari reserve and the fishing village of Marzamemi.

What is there to see in the province of Syracuse?

The province combines Greek antiquity and Sicilian Baroque with a coast of protected areas. The main places each have a guide:

The rock-cut necropolis of Pantalica, northwest of Syracuse, holds more than 5,000 tombs from the 13th to the 7th century BC and forms part of the same UNESCO listing as the city of Syracuse (2005). The UNESCO Val di Noto listing also includes Palazzolo Acreide, in the same province.

What is there to see in Syracuse and Noto?

The Neapolis Archaeological Park in Syracuse holds the Greek theater, which dates from the 5th century BC and took its present form in the 3rd century BC under Hieron II; it is considered the largest in Italy. In the Latomia del Paradiso lies the cave known as the Ear of Dionysius, famous for its acoustics. On the island of Ortigia the cathedral grew out of a Doric temple of Athena from the 5th century BC, which Gelon had built after defeating the Carthaginians at Himera in 480 BC; the columns are still visible in its walls.

In Noto the Infiorata is held every May, a carpet of flower petals laid out along a street in the old town. The town was rebuilt in the Baroque style after the earthquake of 1693.

Which towns in the province of Syracuse are by the sea?

Syracuse, Avola and Marzamemi are the coastal places with a guide of their own, and the Vendicari reserve lies between the last two. The Oasi faunistica di Vendicari has been a protected area of the Region of Sicily since 1984; it covers 1,512 hectares of lagoon, dunes, beaches and salt pans and is a stopover for migratory birds; an estimated 180 species visit each year, including flamingos and spoonbills. More swimming beaches on the island are named in the Beach category.

What nature and gorges lie inland?

The Cavagrande del Cassibile reserve near Avola covers 2,700 hectares around a canyon about ten kilometers long with walls up to 300 meters high; at the bottom the Cassibile river forms pools and small waterfalls. More on monuments, UNESCO World Heritage and nature reserves is in the experience categories; food belongs to Sicilian cuisine.

To the north of the province of Syracuse lies the province of Catania with Etna, to the southwest the province of Ragusa with the Baroque towns of Ragusa, Modica and Scicli.

How do you get to the province of Syracuse?

The nearest large airport is Catania-Fontanarossa (CTA). From Catania the A18 motorway leads to Syracuse; see the Highway page. Anyone linking the coastal places with the hinterland will find notes on hiring a car on the Rental car page.

When is the best time to visit the province of Syracuse?

Spring and autumn suit archaeological sites, old towns and gorge hikes; the summer months suit the beach. Temperatures for each month are on the travel planning page.

Vacation rentals across Sicily are listed on sicily.vacations.