Our full day in the famous city of Siracusa, Sicily began with a tour of the city’s archaeological park where we saw evidence of the city’s Greek, then Roman, past. We strolled along the Roman-era amphitheater through the city’s infamous quarries and finished our visit at the Greek theater, renovated during the time of Archimedes in the 3rd century BC. A few of our group opted to stay in town for lunch while most of us returned to Sea Cloud for a lovely meal on the lido deck.
After a brief siesta, we returned for a walking tour of the historic island of Ortygia, starting at the Temple of Apollo, dating to the 6th century BC. We wound our way through picturesque alleys, eventually arriving at the Duomo of Siracusa, a fascinating structure that incorporates Archaic-era Doric columns, a Byzantine church, and a showy Baroque façade. We then explored the town on our own, with most returning to the ship for a wonderful buffet dinner featuring local cheeses and olives alongside delicious yellowfin tuna.
