The Arethusa Spring is one of the most poetic places in Ortigia: a freshwater spring flowing just a few metres from the sea, filled with papyrus plants and tied to one of the most beautiful myths of Magna Graecia.
According to the myth, the nymph Arethusa, pursued by the river god Alpheus, was turned into a spring by Artemis and re-emerged here in Ortigia. Alpheus, out of love, crossed the Ionian Sea as a river to mingle his waters with hers. For the Greeks this spring was proof of the sacred bond between Syracuse and the motherland.
The semicircular pool hosts one of the very few wild papyrus colonies in Europe, along with fish and ducks. The spring supplied the city with water since antiquity and is mentioned by Pindar, Virgil and Ovid.
Around the spring opens the belvedere over the Porto Grande, the stage of the great naval battle between Syracuse and Athens in 413 BC.
Practical tips
- The Lungomare Alfeo starts here: the ideal place for an aperitivo at sunset.
- Next to the spring, the aquarium and the belvedere are perfect for a break with children.
