SYRACUSE - GETTING AROUND
There are two areas of interest, the southeast is the island of Ortygia, the oldest part of the city; north is Neapolis, the archaeological area. The center of town is easily explored on foot - the island contains most of the sights, and is compact and pleasant for strolling. The archaeological area is about 25 minutes` walk away from the island.
By Taxi
For a taxi dial tel. +39-06-9933-0555 (www.siracusataxi.com) or call one
of the three main taxi stands directly: tel. +39-0931-69-722 (train station
taxi rank), 0931-64-323 (Via Ticino taxi rank), or 0931-60-980 (Piazza Pancali
taxi rank).
Taxi rides have a €3 initial fee and a minimum of about €5 charge,
with an additional fee of about €2 by ordering ahead. Extra fees
will be added for night and Sunday service, bags, etc.
The taxi drivers here will not stop for you along
the street unless you are at a `taxi stand` (at the airports, train stations or
in principal squares or larger hotels).
Syracuse is served by a network of buses run by AST (tel. 840-000323; www.aziendasicilianatrasporti.it). Buses leave from the center of Syracuse for Piazza della Posta, which lies across the bridge on Ortygia Island. The best place to catch a bus in Syracuse proper is Piazza Marconi (also called Foro Siracusano). The most frequented routes are no. 21 to 23, which also stop at the railway station.
Bus tickets can be purchased in Piazza Pancali and will take you everywhere in Syracuse, including Archeology Park and the beach.
Bus no. 20 and 2 `Navette` shuttles go from the train station to the far end of Ortygia. Each runs every half-hour, staggered so there`s a bus leaving every 15 minutes. (There`s also bus no. 29, which goes from the station as far as Riva N. Sauro on the north end of Ortygia, but only every 105 minutes or so.)
In additon to the main city buses, there are three navette (shuttle buses) that thread the roads of the downtown island of Ortygia, each along a slightly different route. Two, as stated above, also venture on to the mainland to the train station and back; the other begins and ends at the Talete parking garage on Ortygia and runs every 15 minutes.
For more info: www.aziendasicilianatrasporti.it.
It is not recommended that you attempt to drive on Ortygia. The
roads are narrow and many of them are only accessible by foot. Since 2007, much of the
island of Ortygia
is closed to non-resident vehicles as a ZTL (`Zona
Traffico Limitato,` or `Limited Traffic Zone`). If you are coming to Ortygia via car it is
best to cross the Ponte Umbertino (main bridge) to the island and then
immediately park.
The north end of Ortygia, where you enter the island, is merely a
ZSC (zone where parking is controlled), so you can drive in and park in any of six lots around the
northern edge of Ortygia.
(Parking costs around €0.60 per hour in most spots, though the
`Talete` lot raises the fee to about €1 from 10 pm to 2:30 pm (meaning it's
only €0.60 per hour from 2:30 pm to 10 pm each afternoon/evening.)
Here is a guide to help in driving the streets in Ortygia:
-Orange
streets are ZTL (you can`t drive there)
-Green
streets are ZSC (you can drive there but park only in designated
lots/spaces)
-Purple
streets are pedestrian only
-White streets are a drivable corridor through the center
There is also one thoroughfare cutting down and across the island
on which anybody can drive (but not park) Monday to Friday between 6 am and 8 pm:
south down Corso Matteotti, then left in Piazza Archimede to follow Via
Maestranza to the Lungomare di Levante, where you have to turn north again.
Syracuse`s bike-sharing
program, GoBike allows
visitors to pick up and return bikes at 10 locations around town. Register and
pay fees at any location, including the train station. There are also plenty of bike rentals
throughout the city.
There`s
a cycle path on an old railway track north of the city; it follows the coast
and offers fabulous views with plenty of wildlife (lizards, birds and
butterflies). Drivers are typically courteous and cycling is definitely
preferable to driving.