Location
Ortigia
Ortigia is a place to get lost in, especially in its western part. The magic of the town is its pedestrian lanes, some of them very narrow, with rusting wrought-iron balconies, old-fashioned palazzi and uniform architecture… the town is too small not to retrace your steps all the time, so set off on an adventure, follow your instincts and discover these little squares, these churches not always in good condition, these courtyards with their inhabitants on their doorsteps! All this while avoiding the via Roma axis, where tourist feeders and temple merchants congregate.
8-minute walk from Casa Esther
Piazza Duomo and its cathedral
Nevertheless, there are a few must-sees: first and foremost, the Cathedral, admittedly in the heart of the tourist district, but how could you miss it! First of all, you’ll admire the incredible architectural unity of the cathedral square, with all its Baroque palaces (including the town hall), the light on the yellow stone (at its zenith at the end of the day when the sunlight is razor-sharp), and the idea that nothing has changed for 300 years… The cathedral itself is a totally unique place in the history of Catholic construction: it was built on top of a Greek temple (whose columns are still perfectly standing inside), which had itself been transformed into a mosque at the time of the imam! In short, an almost perfect synthesis of Sicilian history in a single location.
10-minute walk from Casa Esther
Castello Maniace
Maniace Castle, at the far end of the peninsula, is also worth a visit, a reminder of the Swabian domination of the Hohenstofen family and a magnificent example of medieval Germanic defensive construction. The castle lacks the magic of the Castel del Monte built by the same Frederic II in Puglia, but is nonetheless very impressive. Contemporary art exhibitions are often held here.
4-minute walk from Casa Esther
The market
Sicilian atmosphere guaranteed, with colors, flavors and scents at every stall. Immersed in a bath of colors, scents, flavors and aromas, it’s hard not to get caught up in this typical atmosphere and be tempted by fresh fish or home-cooked fruit and vegetables. Fresh, local produce on every stall, with oysters and octopus to eat on the spot.
10 minutes by car from Casa Esther
Greek Theatre
Finally, outside the walls of ORTIGIA, a visit to the archaeological park to admire the old Greek theater and the latomies is a must.