Tours

The following four tours are part of the main convention.

Under each one, you may find dates and times, and to which types of public they are dedicated to.

CONVENTION TOUR

Ortigia

Dedicated to EXBO members, Delegates, Participants and Accompanying persons.

The best way to appreciate Ortigia island, the real heart of Syracuse, is just to wander around. It’s difficult to get lost (it measures just 1km by 500 metres), but packed with over 2,500 years of history. The buildings cover a wide range of architectural styles that span from the Greek to the Roman period, from the Normans to the dazzling Spanish Baroque. Restaurants, trattorias, and bars abound and it is especially nice to sit out on the western side in the late afternoon, warmed by the sun and with a view over the lagoon.

WALKING TOUR

Neapolis Archaeological Park

Dedicated to EXBO members, Delegates, Participants and Accompanying persons.

Two of the most significant ancient archaeological sites from both Greek and Roman history are situated adjacent to one another in the northwest corner of Siracusa. The Neapolis Archeological Park of Syracuse contains one of the Roman largest amphitheatres ever constructed, dating back to the 3rd century AD, and a stunning Greek Theatre which dates back to at least the 5th century BC. That combines to make it one of the greatest archaeological sites in all of Italy.

The Archaeological Park, along with the entire city of Syracuse, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.

CONVENTION TOURS AND WORKSHOPS

Dedicated to Delegates, Participants and Accompanying persons.

Please, note that these tours are all going to be repeated more than once. Choose the once you want to attend to during your registration to the Convention.

Catacomb of Saint John and Museum of Archaeology

The catacomb was excavated between 315 and 360 A.D. and remained in use until the end of the 5th century.

To save work, the tunnels in the Catacomb of Saint John of Syracuse were opened on the site of a subterranean disused Greek aqueduct.

Tradition holds that Saint Paul preached here, thus the Christians have always considered the catacomb a sacred place.

It is not difficult for us to imagine the thousands of people who for centuries walked through those tunnels to bring greetings o their beloved who passed away.

Jewish Ritual Bath

Tucked on one of the narrow streets of the Giudecca, the Jewish quarter of Ortygia, at a depth of 11 metres below ground level, participants will visit the Miqwè, presumably the most ancient Jewish ritual bath that has ever been found in Europe. An exceptional discovery made just a few decades ago during renovation works on a private palace.

Papyrus Museum

The Papyrus Museum deals with the study, conservation and dissemination of the testimonies of the papyrus culture, which has a first-rate place in the history of civilization. The Museum carries out activities for the recovery of artefacts and documentation on the use of the papyrus plant among the various populations, as well as research activities whose results have provided a concrete contribution to the solution of many questions ranging from the origin of the papyrus to the safeguarding of papyri of the Ciane river (Siracusa).

Participants will know more about how the papyrus of Siracusa is made and more about its history!

Visit of the Pupi Theater

The Opera dei Pupi is a popular form of theatrical entertainment that developed in the early 1800s with tin marionettes as protagonists of elaborate tales of chivalric heroes, saints and infamous bandits. With this field workshop participants will see how pupis are created and used, the history of the theatre and more!

Greek Theater Backstage

The backstages of the Greek Theatre are situated in the Pantanelli Contrada (Pantanelli District). Here, you will be able to see all the magic behind the shows: all kinds of workers contribute to creating backdrops, theatre props, masks, costumes and more.