The best photo spots
in Siracusa & Ortigia.

Few corners of Italy photograph as beautifully as Siracusa. From the baroque squares of Ortigia to the sea at golden hour, here are the spots a local photographer keeps coming back to, and the best time to shoot each one.

01Piazza Duomo, Ortigia

The most photogenic square in Sicily: a wide expanse of pale stone framed by the baroque cathedral. Stunning at blue hour, when the lights come on and the crowds thin. Great for couples, families and elegant portraits.

On the cathedral steps, Ortigia, Siracusa

02La Giudecca & Piazza Archimede

The old Jewish quarter, La Giudecca, is arguably the most photogenic corner of the whole island: a knot of narrow stone alleys that predates almost everything else in Ortigia. It opens onto Piazza Archimede, with the Diana Fountain at its centre, one of the most recognisable squares in Ortigia after Piazza Duomo.

03The Ortigia seafront

The Lungomare Alfeo, on the west side, runs from the Fonte Aretusa down to Castello Maniace and is where the whole town walks at sunset. Across the island, the Lungomare di Levante faces the open sea and glows at sunrise, almost empty. Two specific spots worth knowing: Forte Vigliena, the small fort at the far end of the seafront, and the Ponte Umbertino, the bridge into Ortigia, both lovely at golden hour with the island behind you.

04The Marina, under the ficus trees

Locals call it simply la Marina: the tree-lined promenade of the Foro Vittorio Emanuele II, along the edge of the Porto Grande, shaded by enormous century-old ficus trees and lined with benches. It runs past Porta Marina, the last surviving medieval gate into Ortigia. The deep shade makes it one of the few spots that photographs well even in the middle of the day, and the yachts moored along the quay give the background some scale.

05Fonte Aretusa & the papyrus

A freshwater spring right by the sea, full of papyrus and legend. Soft, green, intimate, lovely for a relaxed couple or family shoot away from the busier streets.

06The hidden alleys

Ortigia's narrow streets, warm stone, hanging plants, washing lines, little balconies, are perfect for candid, editorial-style shots. This is where the island feels most authentic. Via dei Mergulensi, right by the Gothic windows of Palazzo Montalto, is one of the prettiest and least crowded.

07On the water, at sunset

The most special option of all: a sailboat or small boat out on the bay as the sun drops behind Ortigia. Golden light, the city skyline, complete privacy. Ideal for proposals on a boat, couples and anniversaries. If you are arriving in Siracusa on your own yacht and moored in the Porto Grande, I can come aboard, or meet you at the Marina Yachting pontoon and shoot from a tender as you come in.

Golden hour by the sea

08When to shoot: the golden hour

Whatever the spot, the magic is in the light. Aim for the hour after sunrise or the hour before sunset: warm tones, soft shadows, fewer people. Midday sun in Sicily is harsh and bright, better for a swim than for photos.

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