Syracuse, Sicily, Italy 6 Jul 2026

Syracuse, Sicily, Italy

Founded by Greek settlers from Corinth around 734 BCE, the Italian city of Syracuse, on the island of Sicily, grew into one of the ancient Mediterranean"s great powers and is now part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, "Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica." It is forever linked to Archimedes, whose genius still shapes its identity, and to Plato, who came to Syracuse hoping philosophy might shape political life. That layered past still feels tangible at Castello Maniace, a seafront fortress built for Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in the 13th century, which can still be admired today.

© Balate Dorin/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

A peck between penguins
Puffins pucker up
6 Jul 2025Tour de France

More Desktop Wallpapers:

14 Aug 2024World Lizard Day
What are these unique creatures?
30 Jul 2024Friendship Day
What’s your favorite colour?
A cuddling pair of Taiwan yuhina
21 Dec 2025Winter solstice
A light in the coastal darkness
1 Mar 2025Saint Davids Day
Connecting the dots
4 Jun 2026Snowy egret preening, Florida, United States
Tune into International Jazz Day
Whats a distaff?
10 Jan 2025Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada
16 Jan 2024Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
7 Feb 2026Salar de Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia
Fragrant fields
A magical resting place
5 Apr 2025Grand National
Let’s have a lek, see?
15 Dec 2023SantaPark, Lapland, Finland
Southern tip of a northern isle
21 Aug 2024Wolf Island, Galápagos, Ecuador
13 Dec 2025Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California, United States
What are these predators doing?
A mirror reflecting natures beauty
Cosmic cliffs
27 Oct 2023Sligachan Old Bridge, Isle of Skye, Scotland
20 Sep 2024Ocracoke Lighthouse on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, USA
15 Apr 2026World Art Day
30 Aug 2025International Whale Shark Day