Syracuse Ortigia: Sicilian Street Food Tour & Market Walk

Summary

Ortigia’s market buzz, arancini in hand, laughter over Sicilian sweets

You’ll wander Ortigia’s bustling market with a local guide, tasting fresh arancini and impanate straight from family-run stalls. Savor fried fish cones in summer, cool off with homemade granita or cannoli, and share laughs over stories behind each bite. This Syracuse street food tour isn’t just about eating—it’s about feeling part of the city for an afternoon.

What’s the experience like?

We met just outside the old stone archway in Ortigia—right where the city noise gives way to the tangled streets. Our guide, Salvo, waved us over with a grin and launched straight into stories about his grandmother’s kitchen (he claims her arancini would win any contest). First stop: a tiny counter I’d have walked past a hundred times. The smell of frying oil hit before I saw the golden rice balls piled up behind glass. I bit into one still warm—meat and peas inside—and honestly, I nearly burned my tongue but didn’t care. Salvo told us each filling has its own “personality,” which sounded funny until I tried the pistachio one.

The market was next. It’s loud—vendors shouting in dialect, fish glistening on ice, a kid running past with a paper cone of fried anchovies (I stole one when he wasn’t looking—kidding). We sampled impanate from a bakery stall; flaky crust, rich with tomato and sausage. Salvo switched between English and Italian so smoothly that half the time I forgot which language we were in. He pointed out cheeses from nearby villages and let us try paninetti stacked with salty salami and something creamy I can’t pronounce. At some point I realized my hands smelled like orange peel and bread.

After all that salt and crunch, we stopped for granita—lemon for me because it was hot out and I needed something sharp to cut through everything else. There was this moment of quiet as we sat on the curb licking cold sweetness from plastic spoons. Someone joked about needing a nap already. But then came cannoli: shells so crisp they actually crackled when you bit them, filled right there while we watched. Pistachios everywhere. Maybe too many? No such thing here.

I’m not sure what I expected from a Syracuse street food tour but it felt less like checking off foods and more like wandering around with someone who wanted to show us what makes their city tick—even if that meant getting sticky fingers or laughing at my terrible Sicilian accent (Salvo tried to teach me “mpanata” but gave up after three tries). Walking back through those sun-washed alleys, full and happy, I kept thinking about how food here is really just another way people talk to each other.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Syracuse Ortigia street food tasting

• Try arancini and fried fish cone
• Taste Sicilian impanate
• Visit ancient market and taste paninetti
• Enjoy Sicilian granita and cannoli
• Taste typical local liqueurs

Top questions

How long does the Syracuse street food tour last?

The tour lasts about three hours.

Is lunch included on this Ortigia street food tour?

Yes, snacks and lunch are included during the tour.

Are alcoholic drinks served on this Syracuse food tour?

Yes, one alcoholic beverage is included for guests aged 18 or older.

Does the tour include tasting Sicilian cannoli?

Yes, you’ll taste Sicilian cannoli as part of the dessert stop.

Will we visit Mercato di Ortigia during the tour?

Yes, you’ll walk through Mercato di Ortigia for tastings and local products.

Is bottled water provided on this Syracuse street food experience?

Bottled water is included for all participants.

Is this street food tour suitable for children?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels; infants must sit on an adult’s lap.

Will our guide speak English or Italian?

The guide may speak both English and Italian during the tour.

What’s included

Your day includes bottled water throughout the walk, plenty of snacks at various stops—from arancini to impanate—plus lunch featuring local cheeses and cured meats at Mercato di Ortigia. You’ll finish off with Sicilian desserts like granita or cannoli and enjoy one alcoholic drink if you’re over 18—all guided by someone who knows these streets inside out.