So we decided to go on an adventure and we jumped on a Virtu Ferry to Malta. How cool is that?…read more I went on-line and bought tickets and then I had to find a relative that actually had a printer where I could print the tickets out. All of these things we take for granted in the United States. i am so happy I did screen grabs of my tickets and put them on a flash drive or else I would have never gotten my tickets printed out. And I am glad I did because they used our screen grab tickets as our official tickets to get on the Ferry. Talk about being Green! We were told to get to the dock an hour before departure and we got to see this massive ferry pull into the port. This was not your Uncle's Ferry...this thing was massive...it was like a small cruise ship. I stood there watching cars and semi trucks coming off of the boat. Wow!!! The boat was not very crowded...we bought 2nd class tickets which were not Titanic 2nd class...the seats were nice leather and there was air conditioning. The Ferry had food, drinks and a casino. Really a Casino? A couple of guys were trying to hit it rich. As we left the Port of Pozzallo (Sicily) we were on our way across the water to the island of Malta. It took about 90 minutes to get there and the water was so calm. We could not feel any movement on the boat at all. The trip was fun...we had some food packed and I started reading a Malta Newspaper that a previous traveler had left at my seat. Malta rocks because they speak english...I had no idea that they did...this is going to be easy. As we pulled into Valletta, Malta we were greeted by massive forts, boats and ships all around. It was an amazing sight to see. Then as I was standing on the front of the boat a sea plane flew right over my head and then landed in front of us. I felt like I was in an Indian Jones movie and that I was after some lost treasure and Indy was on that plane. I wanted to pump my fist in the air and say, "I will get you Indy!" but decided not too because my fellow foreign travelers might find that weird. Once we were docked it was now time to find our taxi...we had arranged for a car to pick us up at the dock but with no cell phone we had no idea if anyone would be there for us. And then there was this great guy George holding a sign with my name on it. We were the last ones off the ship...traveling with kids will teach you not to rush out with the crowds. I am so glad we had a car because there was nothing around here but industry. If this was the Amazing Race someone would have stolen our taxi. Words of Warning: On our return trip to Pozzallo, the Ferry left 30 minutes early...we got to the boat 2 hours early because we were worried about traffic on a Friday...note to self...there is no traffic here on a Friday! We got there in about 15 minutes. I was so happy to be sitting on the boat as it left early and thinking about those sad souls who were cursing at the Ferry as it pulled away from the dock. I think I heard someone say, "I'll get you Indiana Jones!" Hey guy on the dock that was my line!!!

Took a ferry from Pozzallo to Malta and back. Very smooth crossing (90 minutes), friendly staff…read more Why didn't I give five stars? 1. The schedule is pretty inconvenient (you will depart around 5:30 / 6:30 in the morning (check in at 4:30 / 5:30) or arrive around midnight). Too early or too late. 2. You have to check in your bags before you board Carry-ons that are allowed on a plane are not allowed on Virtu ferries. After you check in your bags, they won't give your a receipt. After the boat arrives, all bags are loaded on the ground. It is up to you to find your bag and take it quickly - before someone else leaves with it...

Grilled sardines - awful Seafood pasta - cold and awful…read moreGrilled local cheese - ok Cavati with swordfish - awful Ravioli with ricotta cheese - runny and awful Anchovy pizza - tasted old and pre-made House wine - watered down and cold Ambience inside looks like a cafeteria with its bright white lights. Servers speak good English, but no amount of English fluency can justify the bad food. Cover charge per person: 2€

We were here for lunch in 2016 and loved it. We returned for dinner in September 2022 and had the…read moreworst meal we've had in Sicily. The pumpkin sage ravioli were over saged to the point of inedibility. There is no way that whoever cooked this tasted what they were producing. The pomodoro insalata was a bowl of mediocre cherry tomatoes in a dish. No olive oil or seasonings whatsoever. The Sicilian swordfish was way overcooked and dry. The best items were the bottled water and the frozen French fries. Most of the food was cleared by the bussing staff without comment. No wait staff came by at all to ask how things were. I'm sure they are well aware of the low quality of the food served but no one cares because the clientele are tourists who won't be back. Robert Irvine really needs to do an episode of his show about this place. Run, don't walk, anywhere else.

Sampled and bought a delicious mild muscat wine that was about 4 euro for a liter. The also carry…read morechocolate from Modica at reasonable prices as well as olive oils and other items.

Clandestino ad Ortigia opened up in april 2019. It is a quality restaurant not purposely trying to…read morecatch the attention of the huge amount of tourists walking the lanes of Siracusa, though they are more than welcome, of course. You will find Clandestino ad Ortigia a profound Italian restaurant with a delicate combination of tradition and in line with that excellent dishes of modern taste. Take my tuna covered with black sesame. The spigola, sea bass, with almonds, mandorle. A superb job made in the kitchen. The staff under the experienced and hearty host and manager is professionell, keeping the attention without interfering. From the first moment you enter the restaurant, welcomed with a drink, to the last leaving it, you are embraced with warmth and a personal presence that makes Clandestino ad Ortiga an enjoyable experience.

Came here for lunch. They don't take reservations, so you may have to wait in line, but it moves…read morequickly. The food was better than expected, given that this is a bit touristy. If you are in the area and hungry, this is a great option.

When visiting Siracusa, I wanted to enjoy some pistachio pasta while dipping on a refreshing…read morespritz. This place did not disappoint. There was a table outside available just as I approached the place so I was fortunate enough to not have to wait. The space inside is very small and only about 4 small tables on the outside so be prepared to potentially wait. I simply put in my order for the Pesto di Pistachio Pasta and Hugo Spritz and people watched while I waited. The spritz came quickly so I enjoyed the refreshing spritz while waiting for my pasta. When I got my order and took that first bite...pure bliss. The al dente pasta and the subtle pistachio pesto flavor was delicious. Bite after bite and sip after sip, the whole experience on that outdoor table while watching the time pass was relaxing and satisfying. As I dined, I saw more and more people come and wait and I learned they have another location very close by. The waiter would walk them over to that location if they so pleased. The staff mainly speak Italian so be prepared for a language barrier. However, they were all very patient and friendly so no need to worry :)

This is small but well stocked grocery store. We bought a bottle of vodka here. Friendly staff.read more

I can't believe there are no reviews here for this place. The food was amazing, the drink options…read morewere great, and the service was good. I went twice during my time in Ortigia. The first time was for a lunch, where the salad (salmon, pineapple, and avocado) stood out. I went with a group of friends for dinner a few days later and all the food was great. I strongly suggest you go and try it out. If you're going for dinner, I would make a reservation as there isn't a lot of seating. This tiny little place is really a gem.

I'm not a vegan, but my traveling companion was, so MOON was a must try…read more I had a very interesting cocktail served in a teacup, it tastes just like iced tea. Not what I was expecting but it was novel and refreshing. The "cheese" plate was excellent and I didn't miss the dairy. You wouldn't necessarily mistake it for the real deal but the fact that they're actually cultivating bacteria to mirror the natural processes of aging and fermentation is pretty amazing. Pastas we're fantastic, we had the carbonara and tagliatelle with ragu. I can't say I'd order my secondi again, but it doesn't appear to be on the current menu, and it is a matter of taste not quality. My dining partner loved her soy medallions as well as the cannolo served for dessert. As with everything in Sicily, value is incredible. We're talking €50 pp for a multi course, world class gourmet meal. I honestly would not be surprised to pay 4x in NYC or Chicago. If you're a vegan, this is probably worth the drive from anywhere in Sicily even without everything else Siracusa has to offer, and non-vegans won't be disappointed either.

Excellent vegan food! This is an stylish restaurant with a fresh take on food. I highly recommend…read moretheir vegan cheese plate of house-made cheeses. It was incredible. We also got a vegan burrata that was delicious. That would have been enough for lunch, but we decided to try some pasta as well. Everything was absolutely excellent! Don't miss out on this one.