- Details
Below you can find the opening hours as communicated by the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage of Siracusa for the following monuments: the Castello Maniace, the fortress located on the tip of the Ortigia Island, the Ipogeo di Piazza Duomo, and the Temple of Apollo.
Please note that the publication on this blog is purely informative and is not official. Changes are possible without notice, and for updated information, it is necessary to refer directly to the regional department for cultural heritage or the Superintendence of Siracusa at the contact details indicated on the official website.
Castello Maniace - opening hours (for July 2023)
The Castello Maniace is the fortress commissioned by Frederick II of Swabia and dominates the extreme tip of Ortigia.
Opening hours of Castello Maniace
July
- Monday 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM
- Tuesday to Saturday 8:30 AM - 7:30 PM (last entry at 6:45 PM)
- Sunday and holidays 8:30 AM - 7:30 PM (last entry at 6:45 PM)
The Castello Maniace is an imposing fortress located on the extreme tip of Ortigia Island. The original core dates back to the Middle Ages and was commissioned by Emperor Frederick II of Swabia in the 13th century. In subsequent eras, the castle was expanded and reinforced. The visit allows you to admire the evocative hypostyle hall and the splendid natural harbor of Siracusa. [guided tours]
Ipogeo (Hypogeum) di Piazza Duomo - opening hours:
July 2023
Currently, the openings are only on special dates. For long-term information, please contact the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage of Siracusa, the managing entity of the site.
Openings in July:
Ipogeo di Piazza Duomo: beneath the main square of Siracusa, there are a series of passages and underground chambers dating back to various epochs: remains of aqueducts, cisterns, and communication tunnels united in a single large complex and used as an air-raid shelter during World War II. The visit allows you to descend into the depths of Ortigia and take a journey through the history of the city, emerging directly overlooking the sea. [guided tours]
Temple of Apollo
At the moment, the Temple of Apollo remains closed and can only be admired from the panoramic view outside.
Temple of Apollo: located at the entrance of Ortigia Island, it is one of the most important archaeological testimonies of Siracusa due to its antiquity. The temple can always be admired from the promenade above, while the openings of the area below are limited to special events organized throughout the year. [guided tours]
Castello Maniace and Ipogeo di Piazza Duomo entrance tickets
The cost of the entrance ticket to Castello Maniace is € 8 (during the current temporary exhibition). For the Ipogeo di Piazza Duomo, the cost of the ticket is € 2.
Free entrance for children under 18 years old.
School groups are entitled to free admission but must submit a copy of the participant list issued by the school secretariat to the ticket office.
Guided Tours
Guided tours of Castello Maniace are available upon request from authorized tourist guides Hermes Sicily Tours. Private guides for groups, small parties, or individuals can be booked throughout the year in combination with the visit to Ortigia. More information is available on this page. You can also send an email to
Various group visits are proposed throughout the year, especially within the schedules of summer and Christmas group visits, as well as on certain Sundays of other months as part of the seasonal events calendar. You can check if there are scheduled dates on the two pages below:
Summer and Christmas group visits calendar | Seasonal events calendar
Guided tours of the Ipogeo di Piazza Duomo can be requested from Hermes guides as an additional option to the standard visit of Ortigia. The visit to the Ipogeo is only possible during the officially communicated opening periods by the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage of Siracusa. The view and explanations related to the Temple of Apollo are included in all our tours in Ortigia.
- Details
The archaeological park of Kamarina and Cava d'Ispica was established in 2019 and is responsible for the management of the major archaeological sites and museums in the province of Ragusa. We hereby publish, for purely informative purposes and without any official status, the opening hours communicated for the various sites. For any further information or updates, please refer to the website of the managing authority.
Updated opening hours for the month of: June 2023
Cava d'Ispica Nord | Open |
Parco Forza (Ispica) | Currently closed |
Museo archeologico ibleo (Ragusa) | Open |
Kamarina, archaeological area and museum | Open |
Convento della Croce (Scicli) | Open |
Kaukana |
Currently closed |
Bagno arabo di Mezzagnone | Currently closed |
Archaeological area of Monte Casasia | Freely accessible |
Necropolis of Contrada Rifriscolaro |
Archaeological area of Cava d'Ispica Nord
- Weekdays: Every day from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM (last entry at 6:30 PM)
- Holidays: June 18th - full day | June 11th and 29th - morning only | June 25th - closed
At the moment, the site is only partially accessible. The gymnasium, the Oratorio di San Nicola, and the Catacomba della Larderia are open, while the fallen caves, the cemetery, and the Church of Santa Maria are closed.
The entrance ticket costs €4, reduced to €2 for ages 18 to 25. Admission is free for children under 18. A valid identification document must be presented for discounts and free admission.
Convento della Croce (Scicli)
- Monday to Saturday from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM (last entry at 6:30 PM)
- Holidays:
June 4th and 18th - full day
June 11th and 25th - morning only
The entrance ticket costs €4 (reduced to €2 for ages 18 to 25). Free admission for minors.
Kamarina (archaeological area and museum)
- Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM (last entry at 1:30 PM) and from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM (last entry at 6:30 PM)
- Holidays: Full day, closed on Sunday, June 18th
The entrance ticket costs €4 (reduced to €2 for ages 18 to 25). Free admission for minors.
Parco Forza - Ispica
Iblean Archaeological Museum in Ragusa
- Details
Those who wish to admire the painting "Burial of St. Lucy", a work by Michelangelo Merisi, known as Caravaggio, contrary to what is still indicated in outdated paper guides or websites, no longer have to go to Piazza Duomo. In fact, in December 2020, the Caravaggio painting was moved from the Church of Santa Lucia to the Badia in Ortigia to its original location, the Basilica of Santa Lucia in the homonymous square of the "borgata" district.
The basilica and the painting can be visited every day and currently no entrance ticket is required.
The last update regarding the opening hours was communicated in January 2023.
Opening hours: every day from 9:00 am to 12:45 pm and from 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Visiting is not possible during religious services. For any update, it is necessary to contact the tourist information offices of the municipality of Syracuse.
Visit Syracuse with Hermes Sicily's private guides
- Details
Information about opening times and admission fee, updated: April 2024
The archaeological park of Syracuse, Eloro, Akrai and Villa del Tellaro includes the major archaeological areas of Syracuse, from the Neapolis park to the Eurialus castle, as well as several museums and archaeological sites located both in the main town and in the province, including the archaeological areas located in the Pantalica reserve and the Anapo Valley. Currently, part of the sites belonging to the park are open and accessible. Below are the latest information provided by the park management.
We specify that the publication on this blog is purely informative and does not official. Changes are possible without notice, and for any updated information, it is necessary to refer directly to the archaeological park official contacts.