Siracusa

Siracusa, sometimes referred to as Syracuse in English, was once one of the key Cities of the ancient Greek world. The earliest Greek settlements are recorded from the 7th century BC, but by the 4th century BC the City and Province had become so influential that it dominated the Western Mediterranean, despite attempts by the rulers of Athens to bring the City to heel.

The old town is centred on Ortygia (or Ortigia), a promontory connected to the mainland by the Ponte Umbertino. Besides the narrow streets and Baroque houses, the town has several important historical sites, including the Temple of Apollo , which is thought to be the oldest Doric Temple in Western Europe . Built in 6th century BC, the temple has inscriptions, which show the dedication to Apollo, although not much of the original structure remains standing. The cathedral can be found in the heart of Ortygia, located in the Piazza Duomo. The original building dates from the 7th century and was built on the site of the Temple of Athene . Reconstructed after an earthquake in 1693, with the impressive Baroque façade added in 1728.

The rest of Siracusa is split into four main areas, Archradina, S.Lucia, Tyche and Neapolis. Two of the most significant archaeological sites are located in Neapolis, the Latomia del Paradiso is the site of a famous ancient quarry from where the Greeks excavated huge quantities of stone. Contained within the quarry is the Orecchio di Dionisio, translated as the “ear of Dionysius”, which is a huge cavern open to the public. The cavern has an opening that is 23m high and extends 65m into the rock. The cavern was named by Caravaggio in the 16th century based on its shape, but it also has remarkable acoustic properties. The second significant archaeological site is the Greek Theatre, located immediately adjacent to the park surrounding the ancient quarry. It is one of the largest Greek theatres known. The first wooden theatre on the site dates from the 6th century BC, later enlarged and turned into a stone theatre in the 4th century BC. Further enlargements were then completed in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. Many of the great Greek playwrights, including Aeschylus, had their work performed at the Theatre, and the site is still used periodically by the National Institute of Ancient Drama.