Getting there
Reaching the Ortigia theatre
How to reach the Syracuse puppet theatre on the island of Ortigia: the two bridges, walking the old town, when to arrive, what to bring and what comes after.
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The puppet theatre is in Ortigia, the small island that is the historic centre of Syracuse. Two bridges connect it to the rest of the city, the grander being the Umbertino Bridge. Cross on foot and walk through the old town to the theatre named on your voucher, arriving about fifteen minutes before the show begins. Showtimes vary by season, so go by the time your booking gives.
Ortigia in a sentence
Ortigia is a small island at the eastern end of Syracuse, separated from the rest of the city by a narrow channel. Its name comes from the Ancient Greek word for quail, and Greek colonists settled it in the 8th century BC, after the Sicels. It is the historical centre, the Città Vecchia or old city, and it holds many of the city's oldest landmarks, from the Temple of Apollo to the cathedral built over a Greek temple. In 2005 it was inscribed by UNESCO as part of the World Heritage Site of Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica. The puppet theatre is in its historic centre.
Crossing the bridges
Two bridges link Ortigia to the mainland part of the city. The more monumental of them is the Umbertino Bridge, named after King Umberto I, who reigned when it was built. Walk across either bridge and you are on the island, and from there the old town is best explored walking. If you are staying on the island already, you are simply a stroll away; if you are staying in the newer city, allow extra time for the walk. The channel the bridges cross is narrow, so the island never feels far away from the newer streets.
Finding the theatre
Ortigia is a tangle of narrow lanes and small squares, and it is easy to take a scenic wrong turn. Your voucher names the meeting point, which is the theatre itself, so pin it on your phone's map before leaving, with the voucher ready to show. Aim to arrive about fifteen minutes before the show begins: the theatre is small, and that margin lets you find the door, settle in and look at the stage before the curtain.
What time to go
Showtimes vary by season, so ignore any time quoted on a forum or an old blog. Each date in the picker carries its own hour, and the voucher repeats it. Bookings close some hours before each show, so if you want a specific evening, reserve it in advance rather than hoping to walk up. Seats can be reserved unpaid, and dropped at no cost until 24 hours before.
What to bring
Bring your voucher on your phone and comfortable shoes for the paving of the old town. Nothing edible comes with the ticket, so eat before or plan dinner for afterwards. If you are bringing children, a small drink and a snack for before the show will help; under-twos go in free. Anyone who speaks no Italian will get more from the show after reading the cast list of paladins on this site.
Read next: Who's who among the paladins
After the curtain
When the visit ends you are in the middle of Ortigia with the evening ahead. The Piazza del Duomo is the island's central square, lined with historic buildings, cafés and churches, and the seafront walk by the Fountain of Arethusa is another place people gather. The Castello Maniace stands at the island's tip. Any of them makes a good end to the night after an hour and a half of knights.
Read next: An Ortigia day around the pupi
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