Sicily: Siracusa Part 5 - The People of the Ortigia Market: Leaving the Archeological Park, we returned to Ortigia to explore the Roman ruins and the Cathedral first walking through...

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Sicily: Siracusa Part 5 - The People of the Ortigia Market

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Feb 23, 2024 14:05:59 #

srfmhg Loc: Marin County, CA

Leaving the Archeological Park, we returned to Ortigia to explore the Roman ruins and the Cathedral first walking through the bustling Ortigia Market. The photo ops at the market were innumerable, and I've included those which contain images of the vendors. It was challenging trying to keep up with the group and keep my eye on Gail as we walked through the crowd, but I was able to get some interesting images. A little bit about the market from the website: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/apr/21/ortigia-market-food-cheese-siracusa-sicily

"The sights, shouts and smells of Syracuse’s Ortigia market, Sicily
Dirk Booms, The co-curator of the British Museum’s new Sicily exhibition on a slice of old island life
Thu 21 Apr 2016 09.24 EDT

An evocative and strangely nostalgic place that I visit over and over again in Sicily – and get up before 7am for – is the historic food market of Ortigia, the old part of Syracuse, on the east coast. Held every morning except Sunday, it is everything one expects an Italian market to be: there is always a lot of shouting and gesticulating and wonderful (as well as less wonderful) smells. It is sells authentic produce, much of it from the region: herbs, tomatoes, ripe blood-red oranges, deep purple aubergines, bright red chilli peppers and lemons. All are fresh, and cut up while you’re waiting, and there are stalls of local meats and seafood – a swordfish might eye you as you walk past.

But though it is so authentic, the place continues to reinvent itself. New types and shapes of cheeses emerge from time to time, such as a cute pig-shaped cheese, only made on special occasions, and giant colourful sandwiches. Caseificio Borderi is a small sandwich shop in the market offering rolls filled with cured meats, cheeses and fresh salads, and queues trail round the corner at lunch times. It is now the place to go for Syracuse’s student population.

This type of animated market was common in Sicily’s big cities until fairly recently. The best-known ones are probably those in Palermo – the Ballarò and the Vucciria, which was immortalised in a painting by Renato Guttuso but unfortunately has been left to die. This hasn’t happened in Syracuse, however – maybe because of large tour groups that navigate the market’s one small windy street. That’s a good reason to go early: to precede the crowds and to experience the market untainted."

More on the market from: https://www.sicilyintravel.com/en/excursions/tastings/street-food-tour-at-ortigia-market/
"Street food tour: a tour of the Ortigia market.
Discovering the Sicilian food traditions. If you love Street Food and you are in Sicily a must stop is the historic Ortigia market in Syracuse. A true triumph of flavors and products typical of the good and genuine Sicilian culinary tradition.

It takes place every day along Via De Benedictis from 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., except Sundays, and is a meeting place and attraction for all tourists who want to taste delicacies and delight their taste buds. In the nearby Cesare Battisti Square it is possible to visit stalls and stores with a rich selection of “Made in Sicily” products all to be tasted: cheeses, cold cuts, wines, liquors, fruits, vegetables, preserves and various spices.

The historic Ortigia Market allows visitors to take a tour among the street food with a local guide, who will explain in detail the cultural and commercial traditions of this valuable meeting point of different ethnicities and traditions. The street food tour at the Ortigia Market provides a valuable opportunity to sample a variety of dishes originating in Syracuse and throughout the Sicilian island.

Sicilian specialties
Arancine, dried fruits, mixed land/sea platters (zucchini in oil, caponata, swordfish, smoked tuna, platters of hams and cheeses, including the exquisite cacio siracusano, prosciutto dei Nebrodi, and other PDO Sicilian products that always delight the palate of Sicilians, but especially of tourists from all over the world. Enjoy a walk through the narrow alleys of the historic center and relive the lively atmosphere of the Syracuse city. Even today walking among the stalls of the Ortigia Market allows visitors to relive that ‘atmosphere typical of Islamic and Byzantine culture. In fact, the different types of goods distributed make it easier for customers to compare quality and prices. Discover street food at Ortigia Market with a guided tour and be amazed at the maze of narrow streets, monuments and stalls with endless delicacies."

For additional images of the Archeological Park, please see my previous posts:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-799740-1.html
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-799893-1.html
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-800136-1.html
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-800275-1.html

I hope you enjoy these!
Mark

Always a few steps behind her, but I've enjoyed that view for 60 years!