Ortigia is a small island just off of Siracusa, Sicily. This section of the town is actually the historical center of the city and features sweeping panoramic views of the sea, stunning old buildings and fun shops. A one hour drive on the SS114 makes Ortigia the perfect day trip from Sigonella! We set out on a sunny Saturday morning to check out what this city had to offer.
Upon our arrival in Ortigia, we found parking to be a breeze! Several paid parking lots are conveniently located around the city. If paying for parking isn’t your style, you’ll find no short supply of parallel parking spots along the city streets that feature free parking during the middle hours of the day as well as Sunday and festival days.
Once parked, we walked to the edge of the produce market. I was pleasantly surprised by the vast selection of fresh fruits (hello watermelon!!) and vegetables. We also found a variety of specialty shops featuring cheeses, cured meats, sauces and spreads. Further into the market, we began to see stalls with brightly colored scarves, hats and jewelry. Everyone in our group ended up buying a fun hat to help shield us from the sun and bring a little extra sunshine to our Saturday.
We ducked into a cafe for a quick sip of espresso and bite of pastry and then we were off to check out the various stores in the city. The next few hours were spent shopping at souvenir shops, fun handmade trinket shops and even name brand stores. By this time we were all ready for a little break and to refuel with some lunch. We wandered over to the Piazza duomo which houses several restaurants. We picked one with an outdoor eating space, so we could take in the stunning view of the Cathedral while we ate our pizzas. Once we were stuffed, we decided to take a peek into the Cathedral.
Our final few hours in the city were spent wandering through the windings streets, browsing at more trinket shops and taking in the view of the bright blue sea. The sun seemed extra bright in Ortygia and it made the sea sparkle just a bit more here. I was so happy to see the crystal clear water here. We stood along the sidewalk and peered down at the water gently cascading over the rocky shore and spotted several small fish swimming through the blue water. 
Ortigia has quickly become one of my absolute favorite cities. It’s close proximity makes it the absolute perfect day trip and we’ve actually gone twice in the past month! I love the blue water, fun clothes at the market and small town feel of this vibrant Sicilian town.
