Syracuse: hidden gems
A fortress above the city, a gallery holding Antonello da Messina's Annunciation and a temple older than everything around it.
- Euryalus Castle
- Entry €6
- Palazzo Bellomo
- Entry €10, closed Monday
- The Temple of Apollo
- Free, seen from outside
Three places stay outside the main six stops: Euryalus Castle, Palazzo Bellomo and the Temple of Apollo. Each has its own reason. One is a fortress raised by a tyrant, another a painting in a medieval palace, and the third a temple you view from outside and need no ticket for.
The Temple of Apollo: the oldest Doric temple in Sicily
The Temple of Apollo stands on Largo XXV Luglio on Ortygia and is the oldest Doric temple in Sicily. You see it from outside. No ticket is needed (free). It is older than the cathedral that stands on the foundations of the Temple of Athena.
The Annunciation from Messina
A medieval palace on Ortygia holds Antonello da Messina's Annunciation. Entry is €10, open Tue–Sat 9–19 (ticket office to 18); Sun & holidays 9–13 (ticket office to 12.30), closed Monday. The gallery is closed on Mondays. So is the Paolo Orsi museum, and neither is tied to that day.
The tyrant Dionysius's fortress
Euryalus Castle was raised by the tyrant Dionysius I, on the Epipolae plateau above the city, outside the centre. Entry is €6, and the opening schedule is published monthly on the parks' page. Booking a slot: no.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
What is the oldest temple in Sicily that can be seen in Syracuse?
The Temple of Apollo on Ortygia, the oldest Doric temple in Sicily, seen from outside, free.
Does Euryalus Castle need a booking?
Booking a slot: no.
Ready for Syracuse?
Where to next
The best time to visit Syracuse
→Spring and early autumn keep a pleasant climate for the open-air park, while summer is hot and the beaches…
Catania · 50 km
→Black Baroque built from lava stone, a fish market behind the cathedral and a volcano at the end of the main street.
How well does Syracuse suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
Front row for the next trip
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