The Fountain of Arethusa is a natural freshwater spring on the southern tip of Ortigia, fed by an underground source that opens into a large pool near the sea wall. The pool is occupied by papyrus plants — one of the few places in Europe where papyrus grows wild — and a population of ducks and fish. The spring has been flowing for at least 2,700 years, since the founding of the Greek colony of Syracuse.
The fountain is free to look at from the street, or you can pay a small fee to enter the enclosed garden and view it from closer. The promenade immediately south of the fountain, along the sea wall, offers the best views of the open sea and makes a pleasant evening walk. The peninsula narrows dramatically here, and on rough days waves break over the walls on both sides.