Maniace Castle

The Maniace Castle is the fortress that characterizes the entrance to the bay of Syracuse in southeastern Sicily and the skyline of the island of Ortygia, the historic center of Syracuse. The castle was built in the 13th century by Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen on the tip of Ortygia to defend the town from sea attacks. Over the centuries, due to its strategic position, Maniace Castle has been expanded and modified several times. Our private guided tour of the Maniace Castle lasts about 40 minutes and at present it can only be booked as additional visit in a tailored itinerary in Syracuse, e.g. Ortygia and Maniace castle. You will be accompanied by a licensed tour guide who will illustrate the history, secrets, and architectural features of this extraordinary fortress. Emperor Frederick II is also known for his interest in culture, symbolism, and art. For example, he commissioned the construction of 'Castel del Monte' in Puglia or the 'Ursino Castle' in Catania. Although Maniace Castle does not boast the complex geometries of Castel del Monte, here too, with the guidance of our guide, you will find numerical and geometric symbolism and an unusual quest for beauty considering that the building is a military fortress. From the suggestive front square you will enter the interior through the delicate main gate, made of different and refined varieties of marble. The walk through the courtyard will be an opportunity to talk about the devastating explosion that destroyed part of the Maniace three centuries ago. You will then enter the hypostyle hall, the hall of columns, one of the most iconic and evocative places in Syracuse. The 'forest of columns' and the color contrast of the pointed arches provide a view of great impact. The fortress and the hall have also been the venue for the G8 environment in the year 2009 as well as a filming location for the fiction dedicated to the painter Caravaggio and for the last Indiana Jones movie. The more recent parts of the castle are also impressive. The guide will lead you to visit the 'Vignazza fort', a Bourbon casemate overlooking the sea. Inside the monument, there are also two small exhibition rooms: a map room that explains the historical evolution of the Maniace and the small antiquarium with and exhibition of the findings of the archaeological excavations, as well as reproductions of the beautiful bronze rams that once adorned the entrance of Maniace Castle. The visit ends with a walk on the walls of the fortress. From here, you can enjoy an extraordinary view of the sea and the town of Syracuse.

Info and Booking

Contact us to book a guided tour or for information on costs. The visit to the Maniace castle can be booked in combination with a traditional tour of Ortygia or customized full-day itineraries, which may include, for example, the Bellomo Gallery or the Neapolis Archaeological Park. To provide you with a quote, we need to know: the number of participants, the date or period of the visit, and the requested language. If you are looking for a shared group tour instead of a private guide service, check the calendars of our summer and Christmas toursvisits.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation for our private tours is possible up to 7 days before the tour. For further information please have a look at our complete terms and conditions.

Tailored tours

The guided tour of the Maniace Castle can be integrated with further guided tours in Syracuse or in the surrounding areas, by booking a personalized tour of half a day or full-day. Below are some examples of additional itineraries. A complete list of our tours in the Syracuse area can be viewed at the Siracusa tours page. For any further information, please contact us.

Other possible itineraries

Below you can find some suggestions of itineraries which is possible to combine with the visit to the Maniace castle.