Siracusa luggage storage

About Siracusa

Siracusa, or Syracuse, is a city on the southeast coast of the island of Sicily that's steeped in history and myths. Once more politically important than the island's capital, Palermo, the three-thousand-year-old city is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The oldest part of Siracusa was built on a small island known as Ortygia which lies a few meters offshore and is connected to the mainland by twin bridges. The ancient fortress-like settlement contains many of the city's historical buildings, the Cathedral of Siracusa, and a large natural spring, the Fountain of Arethusa.

Siracusa suffered from siege after siege during its turbulent past and was occupied by several different conquering forces. All left their mark on Siracusa and in the surrounding countryside, there are Roman amphitheaters and Greek temples as well as the ruins of castles built by the country's ruling kings.

Siracusa isn't all ancient history. It's a city with a modern side too that caters to its visitors with excellent gastronomical offerings, small but sandy beaches, and outstanding outdoor and adventure recreation facilities. The waters of the Mediterranean fronting the city are part of its attraction and a protected marine nature reserve with coastal caves, rock arches, and a diverse variety of aquatic life.

Things to do in Siracusa

Whether you're into history or not, Siracusa has a lot to offer in the form of things to do. You don't need to be restricted to touring ancient monuments and museums unless you particularly want to be. There are incredible places to explore on foot, on two wheels, along the coast, and even underwater in Siracusa that will keep you busy for days, and that's without even mentioning the city's nightlife which adds another dimension entirely to this exciting Sicilian city.

• Hire a bicycle and peddle down the Pista Ciclabile de Rossana Maiorca. The cycleway is seven kilometers long and winds its way along a disused coastal railway line. One of the main sights and a good place to stop for a breather is the Sculpture Park of Siracusa which contains works from ten local sculptors.
• Learn about what they dug up out of the ground around Siracusa by visiting the Museum Paolo Orsi. The museum is dedicated to the finds of archaeologist Paolo Orsi, and contains examples of skeletons, fossils, and other ancient artifacts.
• Take a seat in the amphitheater of the Archaeological Park of Neapolis to watch a dramatic reenactment or a live music performance as the sun goes down.
• Take a boat cruise along the coast to photograph the rock arches and caves or rent a kayak and paddle there under your own steam.
• Head to the Via Cavour, take a table in the Pizzeria Schiticcio, and devour a real Sicilian-style pizza washed down with a local craft beer and followed by a couple of Sicilian cannoli if you've got any room left.  

Transit options in Siracusa

• The closest airport to Siracusa is Catania Airport. The most commonly used for international flights though is Palermo Airport which is around two hours drive from the city.
• The main train station in Siracusa is on the Via Crispi. There are services to outlying towns and into Palermo although not direct ones.
• Siracusa bus station is on Via Rubino. Services are for the local area and there's also a free shuttle bus going to Oritiga operating from the station. Tickets for the normal bus must be purchased prior to boarding from a tobacco kiosk with a Biglietti AST sign and are valid for two hours.

Luggage storage in Siracusa

If you've decided to jump on a bicycle and pedal your way along the cyclepath in Siracusa, you won't want to balance your bags on the handlebars. Browsing museums or going on a boat cruise with your baggage is a no-no too. When you're looking for somewhere secure to drop your bags at, you'll find Bounce luggage lockers in Siracusa are the safest, lowest priced, and most convenient place to do it.

Attractions and activities near Siracusa

Buccheri: Buccheri is a hillside town an hour's drive inland from Siracusa that dates back to the Norman times. It's a quiet spot to explore on foot and one where you'll find several churches, a baroque-style art gallery, and Parcallario. Parcallario is an adventure theme park and not for the fainthearted. The ziplines, rope bridges and chutes are all tree-top high so you need some nerve to tackle them. If you're not brave enough to give it a try, you can always sit in the cafeteria with a cappuccino and watch everyone else do their thing. It's nerve-racking.  

Avola: There are several good reasons to head south from Siracusa along the coast to the town of Avola. Not least among them is to stop off at one of the vineyards near there and sample some Nero d'Avola which is a local red wine and one of the best on the island. Spend some time on the town's super beach or have lunch in a restaurant on the side of the marina. Get some of Avola's local delicacy, sugared almonds for extra sustenance, and then go inland to explore the Riserva Naturale de Cavagrande Cassibile. Hike along the trails running through the karst landscape there and you'll come across rock tombs, waterfalls and swimming pools as well as being able to spot some of the Sicilian wildlife in its natural habitat.

Augusta: North of Siracusa is the port town of Augusta. While it may not seem such an exciting place at first glance, on the outskirts of the urbanization are some of the best viewpoints on the island and they're must-sees if you're a fan of landscape photography. Start at the Faro Capo Santa Croce, a lighthouse on a rocky point with a great beach for taking a walk along. Head a short distance more north and you'll be able to snap the spectacular vistas from the Balata Liscia and the Balata Acqua Verde before going into town to investigate the ruins of the Porta Spagnola and the Castello Svevo as well to see the offshore Vittorio Fortress.