Syracuse and Ortigia
It was the most powerful city of the western Greek world. The Neapolis park holds the Greek theatre and the cave that, according to tradition, Caravaggio named the Ear of Dionysius; on the island of Ortigia the cathedral is built inside a Doric temple, and the Fountain of Arethusa has papyrus growing in it.
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Weather forecast
The forecast for the next 7 days at this spot: sky, temperatures, rain and wind, wave height and sea temperature.
Forecast by Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), from the models of national weather services. Your browser downloads it directly from Open-Meteo, and only when you ask. In the mountains and at sea the weather changes quickly: check the official forecast as well before you set off.
Getting there
- By train. The nearest station is Siracusa station, 1.5 km away (about 25 minutes on foot). Alternatively: Targia station, 6.9 km away.
- By air. The nearest airport is Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), about 50 km away.
- Parking. There are 10 signposted car parks within a kilometre; the nearest (Autopark Ortigia) is 250 m away.
- ZTL. Many Italian historic centres are limited traffic zones (ZTL) monitored by cameras: if you arrive by car, leave it outside the centre and check opening times and permits on the town council's website (your hotel may be able to register your plate).
Stations, ports, airports and car parks from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL); distances as the crow flies. Timetables and connections change: check them before you travel.
Climate month by month
The most pleasant months for weather are from March to June and from September to November, with average highs between 18 and 29 °C. From July to August it is hot: average highs exceed 30 °C. The wettest month is November (about 92 mm), the driest July. The sea is above 22 °C from June to October, peaking at 27 °C in August.
| Month | Temperature | High / low | Rain mm | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | from 8 to 16 °C | 16° 8° | 43 | 16° |
| Feb | from 8 to 16 °C | 16° 8° | 52 | 15° |
| Mar | from 9 to 18 °C | 18° 9° | 40 | 15° |
| Apr | from 11 to 20 °C | 20° 11° | 15 | 16° |
| May | from 15 to 24 °C | 24° 15° | 48 | 18° |
| Jun | from 20 to 29 °C | 29° 20° | 9 | 22° |
| Jul | from 24 to 33 °C | 33° 24° | 4 | 26° |
| Aug | from 24 to 33 °C | 33° 24° | 15 | 27° |
| Sep | from 21 to 29 °C | 29° 21° | 44 | 26° |
| Oct | from 17 to 26 °C | 26° 17° | 81 | 24° |
| Nov | from 14 to 21 °C | 21° 14° | 92 | 21° |
| Dec | from 10 to 17 °C | 17° 10° | 35 | 18° |
Averages for 2015–2024, estimated for an altitude of 23 m. Air: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), corrected for the altitude of the place; rain: average monthly total; sea: surface temperature from NOAA OISST. These are indicative values: the weather on any given day can be very different, so always check the forecast before you go.