Siracusa Holidays

The city of Siracusa used to be the largest in the ancient world, attracting high-profile visitors like Aeschylus and Plato. Nowadays, this timeless beauty's a popular Sicilian holiday stop, jam-packed with Greek ruins, Baroque piazzas and museums – all with a dash of Italian style.

The centre of the action's labyrinth-like Ortigia island, accessible from the mainland by footbridges. Admire the Baroque cathedral on the shining white square of Piazza Duomo, then toss your pennies into the Fountain of Diana in Piazza Archimedes. There are oodles of cafés around for when you crave a caffe affogato – that's espresso poured over ice-cream.

You won't find sand in Siracusa, but you can still catch the sun on a bathing platform on Ortigia island. For your beach fix, drive just 18 minutes to Arenella – the golden sands and clear, shallow water are worthy of an award.

If you're a history buff, head to the Archeological Park of Neapolis. Channel your inner diva at the Greek theatre – you can even catch a performance here in summer – and tour around the man-made grotto of the Ear of Dionysius.