SYRACUSE - GETTING AROUND

On Foot

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).

By Bus

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.

By Car

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.

By Bicycle

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.