It is one of the only two places in Italy, alongside the Ciane River, where Cyperus papyrus grows spontaneously.
The water is naturally brackish, caused by the proximity of the spring to the saltwater of the Great Harbour.
The spring has been documented since the 8th century BCE and is mentioned in the works of Pausanias and Virgil.
In antiquity, the spring was considered a sacred site dedicated to the goddess Artemis.
The myth suggests that the nymph Arethusa escaped from the Peloponnese and traveled underwater to emerge in Syracuse.
The current masonry structure surrounding the basin dates back to the 19th century.
The spring is home to grey mullet that thrive in the brackish water conditions.
Admiral Horatio Nelson famously watered his fleet at this spring before the Battle of the Nile in 1798.
Fonte Aretusa is a freshwater spring located on the island of Ortygia in Syracuse, Sicily. It is one of the few places in Europe where papyrus plants grow wild in their natural environment. The spring flows directly into the Ionian Sea, separated by a sea wall. Its name originates from the Greek myth of the nymph Arethusa, who was transformed into a fountain by Artemis to escape the river god Alpheus. The site is a natural basin of brackish water fed by an underground aquifer. It serves as a historical landmark linked to the ancient Greek colonization of the city. The area remains a focal point for the local ecosystem due to its unique freshwater-seawater interface.
The elevated stone balcony overlooking the basin provides the best angle of the papyrus against the sea backdrop.
Visit during sunset to see the spring waters reflect the orange and pink hues of the Sicilian sky.
Walk the surrounding sea wall for panoramic views of the Ortygia coastline and the Great Harbour.
Look for the grey mullet visible near the surface of the spring water.
Do not attempt to touch the water or the protected papyrus plants, as the site is strictly monitored for conservation.
