A center of antiquity on the Mediterranean Jul 9, 2021

This bird"s-eye view lets us take in the charms of Ortygia, a small island just offshore from Syracuse, on Sicily"s east coast. Ortygia is considered Syracuse"s "old town" and the historical heart of the city. Two bridges cross the narrow channel that separates Ortygia from Syracuse. Ancient Greeks first colonized this island in the 8th century BCE, and the town is brimming with 2,700 years of history. Walk Ortygia"s web of narrow streets and you"ll see Greek and Roman ruins, medieval Norman buildings, and examples of Baroque architecture as well.

© DaLiu/Shutterstock

palette

Today in History

Jul 9, 2018Gauchos showcase Argentina’s independent spirit
Jul 9, 2019Jaguar in the Pantanal wetlands
Jul 9, 2020High alpine color in Colorado
Jul 9, 2022Dolomites
Jul 9, 2023Moselle River loop near Kröv, Germany
Jul 9, 2024Talampaya National Park, Argentina
Jul 9, 2025Independence Day of the Argentine Republic

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Oct 28, 2022Frankenstein Friday
Mar 19, 2020Sunburst at Angkor
Sep 24, 2023World Rivers Day
Feb 8, 2022Extraterrestrial Culture Day
Nov 24, 2025Gwalior Fort, Madhya Pradesh, India
Sep 19, 2023Splügen Pass, Switzerland
May 1, 2023Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Dec 21, 2024Happy winter solstice!
May 8, 2022Mother s Day
Apr 11, 2020Think deep thoughts
Mar 19, 2025A black heron canopy feeding in Botswana
Jul 14, 2024La Geria wine region, Lanzarote, Canary Islands
Nov 24, 2022Happy Thanksgiving!
Apr 18, 2019Stop and see the flowers
Apr 15, 2021Jackie Robinson Day
Oct 21, 2025Happy Diwali!
Oct 23, 2020Saskatchewan s spookier side
Oct 25, 2019The lemurs of Madagascar
Apr 27, 2023South Padre Island, Texas
Aug 20, 2022World Honey Bee Day
Mar 11, 2020Anybody out there?
Jul 11, 2024World Population Day
Nov 6, 2022New York City Marathon
Jul 27, 2025Barracudas at Shark Reef, Ras Mohammed National Park, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
Sep 21, 2024Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany
Sep 5, 2025Pacific Park, Santa Monica State Beach, California
Nov 5, 2019Balloons and camels are two ways to catch a ride here
Jul 6, 2021The most Instagrammable bird?
Mar 6, 2023Icelandic horses, Iceland
Aug 7, 2019Nubble Island’s only industry