The beautiful city of Syracuse lies on the east coast of Sicily, an enthralling mix of the old and new bursting with history, charm and fringed by the Ionian Sea. The city is world-famous for its treasure trove of ancient ruins but also benefits from a sun-baked coastal location, scenic backdrop and a centre brimming with sights. At its heart is Ortygia Island, known as Città Vecchia, the Unesco World Heritage Site historic centre fringed by azure seas with many Greek and Roman ruins. Syracuse also has a thriving modern city, packed with shops, restaurants, bars and bustling markets. A villa holiday in Syracuse would suit families, groups and couples, thanks to its location, plethora of sights and great facilities. Our villas in Syracuse lie in and around the city, near to the beaches with their white sands and emerald waters, and also in the surrounding rugged farmland – all coming with a private pool.
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Syracuse is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, steeped in history and full of romantic and storied buildings and sights. The most romantic place in Syracuse is Ortygia, so make sure to head there with your partner to see majestic sights like ancient Greek temples and ruined theatres. Other romantic things to do on a couples villa holiday include visiting the marble-hued piazzas, getting lost down medieval streets and admiring the golden sun as it sets over the deep blue Ionian Sea. Syracuse is packed with trendy wine bars, cafes and sultry Sicilian restaurants for a date night, and there are also three great wineries open for tastings and tours just a short drive from your villa in Syracuse.
Syracuse benefits from a fantastic position on Sicily's Ionian coast as is the capital of the eponymous province, and as a villa holiday destination has something for everyone. Guests staying in one of our villas in Syracuse should make the most of this destination by exploring the myriad of ancient attractions, with Syracuse once being a grand ancient Greek and Roman city. Top sights include the Greek Theatre, the Temple of Apollo and the Castello Maniace. There are world-class beaches in and around Syracuse perfect for soaking up the hot Sicilian sun. Combine a trip to the beach with a watersports session or diving tour out to sea. With the city housing great Sicilian restaurants and great shops, and the hinterlands boasting wineries and beautiful scenery, it's impossible to get bored on your Syracuse villa holiday.
It doesn't get much better than Syracuse, a city known around the world for its historical sites and a Unesco World Heritage Site. The ancient city was founded by the Greeks and then inhabited by the Romans and was once a great Mediterranean power. There are dozens of ancient sites to explore in Syracuse, from the remains of vast Greek theatre and Roman amphitheatre to the fabled Temple of Apollo, Orecchio di Dionisio (a limestone cave shaped like a human ear) and the Castello Maniace cliff-side fortress built in 1232. To learn more about Syracuse's ancient history, and to escape from the Sicilian sun, head inside to the Archaeological Museum where you'll find terracotta artefacts, Roman portraits and biblical white marble carvings.
For family days out from your villa in Syracuse, the Aretusa Park waterpark is a must, a pirate-themed waterpark featuring colourful slides, a fantastically big pool, a splash pool and plenty of lounging areas for the adults. Alternatively, head into town and treat the kids to a legendary Sicilian puppet show at the traditional Puppet Theatre – featuring epic sword fights and monsters. Combine a trip to the Puppet Theatre with a stop for ice cream in one of Syracuse's many gelaterias. For sun-loving families, there's nothing like a villa in Syracuse with a private pool, with all our family villas also located near the coast and a plethora of sandy beaches.
Sitting on the coast and a carpet of beaches, ancient ruins, historical buildings and rugged farmland, Syracuse is a playground for adventure lovers. There are dozens of tour operators in the area offering everything from watersports and boating to mountain biking and off-road quad bike tours, so it's easy to inject some adrenaline into your Syracuse villa holiday. Book a quad or 4x4 tour to go off-roading into the Syracuse countryside and the banks of the Cyan river, or head to the coast for scuba diving, snorkelling, submarine tours, dolphin and whale watching, sea kayaking and canoeing.