We will be taking a quick trip in August, and will have one full day in Siracusa (arriving the previous evening, leaving the next AM). What are the must-sees? We'll have a car, but will be staying in Ortigia. I'm wondering if we might just want to spend the full day there. Thanks.

The major sites in Siracusa are well described by most guidebooks. With only one day, you'll have to choose what most interests you.

Ed, the one thing I would highly recommend--only because it is so unusual--is the puppet theater in Ortigia. The theater is very small--only about 25-30 seats--and they put on very dramatic musical productions using marionettes. My husband and I loved it.
Piccolo Teatro dei Pupi e delle Figure, Via della Giudecca 17, Siracusa 96100, Sicily. Telephone and fax: +39 0931 465540. Evening shows run from March to January.

I spend a half-day in Syracuse and to me the highlight by far was the old quarries where in Roman and Greek times slaves were put there to quarry the stones- it is a deep quarry with other vestiges as well of Classical Roman and Greek ruins - a Greek theatre and a Roman amphitheater

Ortiga - the old town centre is stuffed with ancient facades and a grand church, etc.

One day if perfect for Syracuse IME

otherwise i found a pleasant enough seaside town

Thanks, DonnaD44. Does anyone else have any special favorites?

Palenque, I hadn't seen your reply. Thanks, it's very helpful.

I see from another of your posts that you are interested in both art and archeology. In that case, you might want to locate Caravaggio's Burial of Saint Lucy. It used to be in the museum in Ortygia, but when I was there a few years ago, it had been moved to a church in Siracusa while the museum was being renovated. The archeological park and museum are worth visiting, as is the Duomo.

We spent a day in Siracusa while on a cruise. Did a self-guided historical walking tour of the old city that I found in a guidebook, then took the bus out to the Roman and Greek theaters and the Teardrop Church.

We stopped in a little gift shop to make sure the bus on the main street did go back to the old city, where our ship was docked. There were three women employees; we asked if any spoke English, and apologized for not speaking Italian. One said she did, but it was another who took us outside and pointed to our map and tried to tell us where we should go. One one point, I think she said that all of the buses go to the old city like all roads lead to Rome, which she thought was very funny, and we found ourselves laughing, too.

Wandering around Ortigia was the highlight for me - don't miss the Duomo. I also enjoyed a boat ride round the island. The museum and archaeological sights are also worthwhile. One day is really too short - see my TR (click on my name) for more. There are free shuttles around Ortigia, running from near the train station on the mainland.

I would second the puppet show (I missed the one in Syracuse, but saw a similar show in Cefalú). I thought the archeological museum was exceptional. Just walking around the fish market is an education.

Once again I find myself in total agreement with thursdaysd.

Wow - thanks Gary! I should also add I used Ortigia as a base for a day trip to Noto, which I found too baroque and tidy.

Oh oh, I loved Noto.

Lol! I'm not a fan of baroque or rococo - and Noto was just so spruced up it felt a bit artificial.

Yes, it felt like an opera stage set. I didn't mind that as a contrast to the rest of Sicily.

thursday,

Here is my favorite photo of Italy:
http://www.pbase.com/garyca/image/106159817

You know, they allowed the Duomo to collapse a few years ago from dilapidation. Can't say that was too spruce.

Great photo! Very Italian... (I still haven't finished editing my Sicily pix, but this is likely my favorite: http://tinyurl.com/2bsc74w )

I was expecting the dome to still be undergoing repairs, so it was surprise to find everything looking so new.

"it felt like an opera stage set" - seems our assessment wasn't so different, just our reactions.

Ah yes, Erice. A sublime spot. A good friend of mine's parents are from there, so that destination was of special interest to me.