A millennial history

Gazing from a terrace overlooking the sea, you can immerse yourself in a unique scenario whose evocative power reconnects you to a millennial history. From the terraces of Minareto you can enjoy one of the most fascinating landscapes in south-eastern Sicily. An embrace between sky and sea surrounds the Ortigia Island, a place of history and heritage, of art and culture.

The ancient people of the Mediterranean, from the islanders to the Greeks, from the Phoenicians to the Romans, have left their mark on this land. The remains of the three Greek temples dedicated to Artemis, Apollo and Athena still witness a glorious past and the importance of Ortigia as a sacred as well as a strategic place on the mare nostrum.

The Maniace Castle, whose imposing structure can be admired from the opposite shore on which Minareto stands, was built by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederich II of Swabia, who favored the fusion of Greek, Latin, Arab and Jewish civilizations.

A cultural abundance that can still be felt throughout Sicily and even more so here, where the succession of various dominations has left a permanent and varied legacy that today makes Ortigia a unique place in the world.
Behind the the castle stands the ancient Arethusa Spring, a natural freshwater source that has become a symbol of the ancient city; a place where myth, history and nature merge inextricably.

An important point on the Mediterranean and the historical core of Siracusa, since 2005 listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the island is currently connected to the mainland by two bridges, the Umbertino and the Santa Lucia, and is reachable from the sea via a charming Taxi Boat service organised by Minareto for the guests.