Casa a Ortigia and swimming in Syracuse

Unsurprisingly, most people typically associate Syracuse with extraordinary ancient Greek ruins, baroque palaces and, naturally, the mathematician and physicist, Archimede. Somehow, the sea and beach slip into second place. But if you’re visiting during the heat of the summer, a chance to cool off in the sea is just what you need at the end of a tiring day of exploring, as Shana reveals in her holiday review on The Mom Edit. And when kids are involved, the promise of fun in the water can be a wonderful incentive during a morning of sightseeing!

When Shana booked Casa a Ortigia for her Syracuse holiday, she focused more on staying close to Ortigia’s main sights, and less on easy access to the water. But the swimming platform across the road provided an idyllic retreat during the afternoon, a place to soak up the sun and for everyone to enjoy cliff jumping into the crystal clear water that surrounds Ortigia. As an added bonus, its proximity to the villa meant it was close enough to pop back for forgotten items and to rinse off the saltwater with a hot shower. In fact, you’ll find several swimming platforms on Ortigia, including Solarium Ortigia Nettuno, a little further from Casa a Ortigia but with more luxurious lido-style facilities and a bar/restaurant.

Casa a Ortigia is a contemporary 2-bedroom villa with a secluded roof top terrace, set right on the waterfront on Ortigia.

A big thank you to The Mom Edit for highlighting this often overlooked aspect of Syracuse!