 |
According to Cicero, Syracuse was the finest and larges of all Greek cities and is now one of the most attractive towns in Sicily, whit the beautiful surrounding scenery and important ruins of the ancient past. The names of the five districts of the Greek city still survive: they were Ortygia, Acradina, Neapolis, Tyche and Epipolis. Ortygia, which was the earliest Greek settlement has several fine Greek monuments. The Temple of Apollo is the most ancient doric temple in Sicily (early VI cent. B.C.); the Temple of Athene built at the beginning of the V century B.C. has six columns to the front and fourteen to the sides it was noted in antiquity for its richness and splendour. It was converted into a church and in A.D. became The Cathedral; the Greek elements incorporated in the building are still largely visible.
 |
A famous spot at Ortygia is the Fonte Aretusa (Arethusa's Fountain) Connected with the legend of Arethusa and frequently mentioned by classical poets. The most important ancient monument are in Neapolis. Here we find the Greek theatre, one of the largest places o enterteiment in the ancient world; it was entirely hewn out of the living rock until Roman times when a considerable amount of building in masonry was added to meet the demand for new types of setting.
 |
Next to the Theatre is the Altar of Hieron, nearly 200 yards long and 22 yards wide built for public sacrifices in the latter half of the III century B.C. Behind this the Roman Amphitheater, of elliptical shape 140x119 m. Neapolis has the most noteworthy group of Latomie ( stone quarries) in Syracuse; these are one of the main tourist attractions. One of them is Dionysos'Ear, noted for its acoustic peculiarities and the legend which accompanies them; another is the Cordari, once a rope-walk, as its name tell us; then we have Salnistro, Santa Venera and the Intagliatella, all offering a unique series of views.
 |
Other Syracusan Latomie are those of the Capuchins and the Casaie, very extensive and overgrown whit greenery. One should note the archtecture of the Roman Gymnasium. The Eurialian Castle., outside the modern city, is a unique Greek defence work, with fosses, a thousand labyrinthine passages, tower and ring walls. One must not forget that Syracuse has Christian Catacombs ranking second in importance to htose of Rome. The most Famous are those of Santa Lucia, Vigna Cassia and San Giovanni near the ruins of the former Cathedral, and the Crypt of San Marziano. Apart from Graeco-Roman monuments, the city has monuments ranging from the early Christian period to the eighteenth century, especially in Ortygia. Note especially the Church of san Marino, an early Christian basilica of San Pietro, altered in the Byzantine period and again in the 14th century, Santa Maria dei Miracoli in Gothic style with a Renissance porch and Santa Lucia alla Badia with a fine 18th century façade. One should also mention Palazzo Bellomo of the 13th century With 16th century, alterations, housing the Museum with a medieval section and Picture Gallery, and Palazzo Montalto, built in 1397.
 |
In Piazza del Duomo is the outstanding Palazzo Beneventano del Bosco built in the 15th century and rebuilt in the late 18th century, the Archbishop's Palace built in 1628 by S. Vermexio. Outside Ortygia there is the church of San Luca With parts dating from the 12th, 14th and 18th centuries.