Live music for cruise passengers in Syracuse

Syracuse was one of the greatest cities of the Greek world, and its ancient heart, the island of Ortigia, is still there, looking out over the harbour where the ships arrive.

The port and the city

Ships dock along the Great Harbour, beside Ortigia. A short walk away are the Cathedral, built within the columns of a Greek temple dedicated to Athena, the baroque square around it and the Fountain of Arethusa. The Neapolis archaeological park, with the Greek Theatre, is on the mainland, a few kilometres away.

Syracuse is also the city of Saint Lucy, loved by Catholics and Orthodox alike, and of Saint Methodios, the patriarch who restored the icons in Constantinople: for a pilgrimage group, sacred music here has a special meaning. Their stories are told in Saint Lucy of Syracuse and Saint Methodios of Syracuse.

What to offer the group

• The Italian music concert: about 45 minutes of Neapolitan classics, serenades, Sicilian music and Ilarion's own compositions, with voice and piano or, on request, more singers and musicians. The concert programme.
• Sacred music in church: the Ave Maria and sacred music with voice and organ, for pilgrimage groups and visitors; for Orthodox groups also the Akathistos Hymn to the Mother of God.
• A musical evening or aperitif for the group, in a hotel, a villa or on a terrace.

Church music in Syracuse.

Plan ahead

The venue is chosen with the organiser, and the available venues change with the dates. That is why it is best to write at least 6 months before the call, with the date, the ship's times, the number of people and the group's language. Ilarion sings in Italian, English, Spanish and Greek.

All the formats and the other ports are on the page live Italian music for cruise passengers and tour groups in Sicily. Other ports: Messina · Giardini Naxos and Taormina · Palermo.

Check availability for your group, at least 6 months before the date.