Siracusa was once a city-state, and the center of everything in the Ancient World: learning, trade, art, geopolitics, architecture, and culture. At one time or another it was the premier city of ancient Greece, the Moorish capital of Sicily, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, and a hub of Christianity and Judaism. The entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage site, so there is much to see here. You have a choice of three excursions: visit the Neapolis Archaeological Park with a local guide and peruse one of the largest Greek theatres, carved into the side of a hill in the 3rd century; proceed to the Latimo del Paradiso (Paradise Quarry) to see the catacombs and the Ear of Dionysius, a cave with an opening shaped like an elfin ear, 70 feet high; because of its amazing acoustics, the grotto may have been a theatre or a prison, depending on whether you believe legend or the rogue artist-rascal, Caravaggio; then take a guided walking tour through Ortigia, a romantic island in the heart of the city dense with palazzi, charming piazzas, ancient temples, Byzantine churches, sidewalk cafes, and seaside promenades, where your stops include the ruined Temple of Apollo, and the Duomo, a Baroque masterpiece built over the Temple of Athena. Alternatively, drive to the city of Noto, an enclave of antiquity as old as Siracusa; leveled by an earthquake in 1693, the town was entirely rebuilt in the 18th century, and is known today as the Capital of Baroque, a stately showcase of Sicilian Baroque architecture, operatic in its grandeur, adorned with carvings, columns, and statuary, and aglow in warm, honey-hued limestone; a guided walking tour will take you from the public gardens to the main attractions along the Corso Vittorio Emanuele, including the Church of St. Dominic, the Church of St. Charles, the Ducezio Palace, and the centerpiece Cathedral of San Nicolo at the top of a grand staircase in the main square. You also have an opportunity to explore Ortigia by bicycle; from the port, depart on bike to Tempio di Apollo, then ride along to Palazzo Greco, Diana Fountain, and Cathedral Square. On the way to Maniace Castle stop at the Arethusa fountain and then have a stop at the market; a Sicilian snack is included. Everyone returns to the ship for lunch, then spend the afternoon at your leisure in Ortigia. This evening join the Captain for a farewell dinner as you sail for Malta.