Four hours cannot do justice to 2700 years of history for sure. One evening – that’s all we could spend in the Italian city of Syracuse (or Siracusa) in Sicily, Italy, where Archimedes was born.


The massive Greek Theatre, several palazzos and churches, and the Maniace Castle (Castello Maniace) in Syracuse represent the best of Greek, Roman, and Baroque architecture.


The city’s architectural monuments have stood the test of time, surviving two earth quakes in 1542 and 1693 and bombings during the Second World War. Syracuse became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.




In the few hours we had in the city, we explored the Greek Theatre, built in the fifteen century BC, and the Maniace Castle, constructed in the 12th century AD. These two well-preserved sites and a leisurely stroll through the quaint but modern streets helped us get a feel of the port city.









Syracuse lies in the south-east corner of Sicily. We travelled from Taormina to Syracuse. The nearest airport is the Catania Fontanarossa Airport.