Mercato di Ortigia Walking Tour, Siracusa - Sicily

Early morning tour of Ortigia market

The historic food market of Ortigia, in the old part of Syracuse. Held every morning except Sunday, it is everything one expects an Italian market to be: there is always a lot of shouting and gesticulating and wonderful smells. It is sells authentic produce, much of it from the region: herbs, tomatoes, ripe blood-red oranges, deep purple aubergines, bright red chilli peppers and lemons. All are fresh, and cut up while you’re waiting, and there are stalls of local meats and seafood – a swordfish might eye you as you walk past.

But though it is so authentic, the place continues to reinvent itself. New types and shapes of cheeses emerge from time to time, such as a cute pig-shaped cheese, only made on special occasions, and giant colourful sandwiches. Caseificio Borderi is a small sandwich shop in the market offering rolls filled with cured meats, cheeses and fresh salads, and queues trail round the corner at lunch times. It is now the place to go for Syracuse’s student population.

Ortygia is located at the eastern end of Syracuse and is separated from it by a narrow channel. Two bridges connect the island to mainland Sicily. The island is a popular location for tourists, shopping, entertainment and is also a residential area.