From Malta: Syracuse and Marzamemi Day Trip with Guide

Highlights

• High speed catamaran trip
• First stop: Syracuse
• Second stop: Marzamemi
• English guide

Description

This boat tour explores ancient Syracuse and the fishing village of Marzamemi, suitable for history and culture enthusiasts visiting Sicily.

Syracuse was once the most important city in Western Europe, founded by Greek settlers from 733 BC when Sicily became Magna Graecia. Ancient Syracuse is located on an island connected to the mainland by a short bridge. The island Ortygia serves as the historic center where the Greeks established the city for defensive reasons. Ortygia has been recently restored, attracting increasing visitors.

The Piazza Duomo is the central square of Ortygia, dominated by the Duomo, originally the Greek Temple of Athena. Rather than demolish it, the Byzantines converted it into a Christian church. Subsequent Norman modifications added a Christian interior and facade. After the 1693 earthquake destroyed the facade, the current Sicilian Baroque facade was constructed. The Duomo is a rare example of mixed Greek, Byzantine, Norman, and Baroque architecture and remains one of the oldest continuously used worship sites in the world.

About 45 minutes from Pozzallo lies the fishing village of Marzamemi. This small village features rows of colorful one-story fishermen’s houses and the disused tuna processing plant called the Tonnara, built by the Arabs in the 10th century. Palazzo Principe Villadorata and the Chiesa di San Francesco di Paola overlook the village.

The central meeting place is Piazza Regina Margherita. The village is known for its vibrant blue doors and windows, red geraniums in pots, and colorful wooden fishing boats set against the Mediterranean Sea. Visit Campisi for traditional Sicilian delicacies like bottarga, dried tuna roe, a specialty unchanged since Arab-Phoenician times.

Includes

• State-of-the-art catamaran crossing
• High-speed catamaran journey
• Views of Sicily’s scenic coastal routes
• Comfortable air-conditioned vehicles for land transfers
• Expert English-speaking guides covering history and geology
• Engaging narration about Sicily's past and present

Excludes

• Minimum 15 passengers required for the excursion operation
• Meals and drinks
• Local transfers

Important Information

• Departure by high-speed ferry is at 7:30 am
• Arrive at The Virtu Passenger Terminal in Marsa at least 1 hour before departure for check-in
• Bring valid travel documents

Cancellation Policy

Cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund.