There is a beautiful Baroque island with a thousand-year history in Sicily, Ortigia!

Travel writer Rick Steves once said: "If you love Rome in southern Italy, go further south. It will be more beautiful there." 🎈, and Ortigia in Sicily is almost at the southernmost tip of Italy. It is really an extremely beautiful Baroque-style island 😍. 📍Ortigia, Sicily, Italy 📖About Ortigia: Ortigia is the historical core area of ​​Syracuse. This small island has a long history of more than 3,000 years. It is located on an island and is closely connected to the mainland of Syracuse by two bridges. It is famous for its rich Greek culture and is listed as a landmark by UNESCO. 💐Tips for checking in: 🔹Cala Rossa Spiaggia This is definitely the main beach in Ortigia. There are several other swimming areas on the island, such as near the pier in front of Giardino Aretusa, or walking down the stairs of Forte Vigliena to the beach. 🔹Siracusa Cathedral Built in the 7th century, it is the most important monumental building in Ortigia. It is located on the ruins of a Greek temple. After the earthquake in 1693, the facade of the church was rebuilt in Baroque style. This is definitely a must-see attraction when you visit here🤩. The exterior decoration of the church is super gorgeous✨, with exquisite carvings covering the walls, spiral patterns on the columns, and colorful and delicate religious murals painted on the vaults, full of mysterious and solemn atmosphere😏. 🔹Cathedral Square Wow, it is one of the most beautiful squares in Italy🤗, an outstanding example of Baroque architecture, surrounded by many beautiful Baroque palaces🤩. The architectural lines on the square are smooth and dynamic🎇, with complex and delicate reliefs on the facades, and gorgeous scrolls and patterns decorated around the windows, showing a unique artistic charm😍. 🔹Temple of Apollo Its history can be traced back to the 6th century BC. It is the first great Doric temple of its kind in Sicily, which is of great significance. Over the centuries, this temple has gone through vicissitudes, from its initial glory to several changes in the long river of history. It has been transformed from a Byzantine church into an Islamic mosque, witnessing the collision and fusion of different civilizations. It is said that many mysterious and moving stories have taken place in the Temple of Apollo, as if telling the glory and legends of the past😜. 🔹Archimedes Square Built in 1878, it carries a long history🤓. In the center of the square is the beautiful fountain of the Roman goddess Diana, which adds a touch of agility and elegance to the entire square😃. This is the center of Ortigia, as if it is the heart of the entire island💖. A long time ago, this might have been an important place for people to gather and communicate, and countless lively scenes and interesting stories had taken place here😜. 🔹Maniace Castle: Wow😮, this simple yet super majestic fortress stands on a promontory on the island of Ortigia, overlooking the Siracusa Golf Course🏌️. It was carefully built by Emperor Frederick II in 1240. The castle has super strong walls and a majestic aura, as if loudly telling of its former glory and supreme majesty🤩! It is said that Emperor Frederick II attached great importance to this castle. It has played an extremely important defensive role in the long history, and it has firmly guarded the peace of one side👏! 🔹Puppet Theater: Hehe😁, puppet tradition is popular in many places in Sicily, and Ortigia is no exception! There will be wonderful performances every day at 5:00 pm, so everyone must remember to buy tickets in advance🎫. The puppet theater has a very long history. Here, the puppets seem to be magically given life, vividly performing various wonderful stories. Legend has it that in the past, puppet shows were one of the main forms of entertainment for people, bringing them countless joys and deep touches🥰. 🔹Wander through the charming alleys: Wow😄, there are cafes and restaurants all around the Piazza del Duomo. It is definitely a great place to stop for a drink or a beer and enjoy the beautiful view of the square🤗. Then, just stroll freely in the charming alleys and explore the churches and palaces on the entire island of Ortigia. This is the best choice😃. 🔹A relaxing stroll along the seaside: Take a leisurely walk along the outer edge of the island, with the magnificent sea on one side and the beautiful buildings of Ortigia on the other. While strolling, you can also see various churches and museums. The entrance to the west promenade is Porta Marina, which is one of the ancient gates to the city that still remains today. 😋 Food recommendations: 1. Gelato: Wow, Italian gelato is one of the specialties of Ortigia. There are so many flavors. You can enjoy the most authentic flavors in the ice cream shops on the street. I highly recommend trying Sicilian flavors, such as pistachio or lemon ice cream. 2. 🍤Seafood: Ortigia is right on the seaside, so seafood is of course an important part of the local cuisine. You can try seasonal seafood dishes such as boiled octopus and fried squid🦑. 3. 🍰Cannoli: This is a Sicilian dessert, made of crispy dough wrapped in fresh cream or chocolate sauce. Cannoli is definitely one of the most representative foods in Sicily, you must try it😋. 4. 🍅Tomatoes and grilled eggplants: Ortigia’s cuisine is based on tomatoes and grilled eggplants, which are paired with other meats and vegetables. You can try traditional dishes such as tomato pasta, roasted eggplant with bread, etc.🥪. 5. 🥧Cannoli Roll: The crust is thin and crispy, paired with fresh cream filling or pistachio sauce, it is really a super delicious dessert😝. 6. 🍜Squid ink wide noodles: Noodles with squid ink taste so delicious, it’s heaven for carb lovers😍. 7. 🍝PASTA A TAIANU - Cefalu's specialty "shallow pot pasta": different ingredients are paired with different pastas. Each meal of pasta has a different shape. It is a paradise for carb lovers🤩. 8. 🍕Eel Pizza: There are also Southeast Asian curry chicken and pasta, these are all signature Mediterranean delicacies😎.