Syracuse - Old Town

Foro Italico, the promenade of the Foro Vittorio Emanuele II, is a beautiful place for a walk, and its seats under the trees tempt the visitor to rest awhile. It extends northwards from the Spring of Arethusa to the Molo Zanagora landing stage, to the 15th century Porta Marina, where remains of the old city wall can be seen, and to the little church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli (c. 1500).

At the south end of the Foro, in a small park, is the entrance to the Acquario Tropicale, with rare fishes from tropical seas.

Continuing along Via Capodieci leads to the Palazzo Bellomo, an important Hohenstaufen building with a severe, two-storyed facade, the ground floor of which dates from the original building (1250). The upper floor has tripartite windows with slender pillars, displaying 15th century Catalonian influence. In the inner courtyard, an open hall with flat-arched arcades, an open staircase leads to the upper floor.

Crossing the Ponte Nuovo on to the island of Ortigia we reach the Piazza Pancali, with the large post-office building on the left.

At the north end of the Foro in Syracuse are the Porta Marina, with Hispano-Mauresque ornaments (15th century), and the church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli (1501).