Connected to the modern town by bridge, Ortygia, Syracuse's historic centre, is an atmospheric warren of elaborate baroque palazzi, lively piazzas and busy trattorias. At its heart, the city's 7th-century Duomo lords it over Piazza del Duomo, one of Sicily's loveliest public spaces. The cathedral was built over a pre-existing 5th-century-BC Greek temple, incorporating most of the original columns in its three-aisled structure. The sumptuous baroque facade was added in the 18th century.
