The ancient city of Syracuse and Ortygia Island

"...the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all...." Cicero

Siracusa/Ortygia on the Ionian Sea.(Italianfix)

Siracusa/Syracuse is an ancient city founded by Greek Corinthians on the south-east coast or the Ionian Coast of the island of Sicily. (The Ionian Coast is a particular area of the Mediterranean Sea, it lies between the eastern coast of Southern Italy and Greece and continues around the 'heel of the boot' of Italy to the eastern coast of the island of Sicily.) 

Map showing the location of the Ionian Sea.(KeepTalkingGreece)

Syracuse, was one of the most important cities in Ancient Greece, and it is located in Sicily!! It was an important city in Ancient Greece and was settled in about 734 BC by Greek settlers from Corinth.  At the height of its power in the ancient world, Syracuse was a powerful city-state equal to Athens in size (in the 5^th century) and contained a population of some 300,000 persons. Ancient ruins can be found everywhere in this historical city. This city has a 2000 year old history and an ancient neopolis or amphitheater that is 1000 years old which is still used for performances. Today you can visit the Archaeological Park with a Greek and a Roman theater, the remains of a massive Greek altar, an ancient quarry (Latoma di Paradiso), and the cave known as The Orecchio di Dionisio or The Ear of Dionysius. Greeks controlled the city and then it came under Roman control. After Rome, it became a part of the Byzantine Empire. The city of Syracuse is mentioned in the Bible (Acts 28:12, Paul the Apostle mentions that they stayed in Syracuse for 3 days before traveling to Rhegium (on the coast of the Italian peninsula). Syracuse was part of the area known to Romans as "Magna Grecia", or the places where there were Greek settlers, which encompassed the coastal areas of Southern Italy, the provinces of Campania, Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, and the island of Sicily. 

Looking down towards the Teatro Greco/Greek Theater.

Inside the Teatro Greco.(my photo)

The Greek Theater here (Teatro Greco) is one of the biggest in the world, is well preserved, and it was carved into the rock in the 5^th century BC. 15,000 spectators can be seated within it. The theater was used for plays and assemblies anciently and hosts present day performances as well.. The Roman Theater (Anfiteatro Romano) was built around 100 AD, it was the site of Roman games with gladiators and is believed to have the ability to be flooded with water for mock sea battles. It also has remains which lead archaeologists to believe that machinery was used to raise and lower platforms or cages for battling wild animals and tunnel areas similar to the Colosseum in Rome. When the Spanish conquered the city in the 16^th century, they removed vast quantities of rock from the Roman theater and used it to fortify the city.

Roman Theater in the Archaeological Park.

The massive Greek altar seen in the Archaeological Park is named for Hieron II (Ara di Gerone) a ruler of the city in approx. 250 BC who allied the city with the Romans. It is such a large altar that it is estimated that 450 oxen could be sacrificed at one time on this altar (length: 196 meters or 214 yards).

The Ear of Dionysius, outside view.

The Ear of Dionysius is a cave next to the quarry (Latoma di Paradiso) which is shaped like a gigantic ear on the outside and has unique acoustical properties which amplify sound. It is said that in the 4^th century BC, Dioysius, the tyrant leader of the city, manned the quarry with slave labor from war prisoners from their the war with Athens in 413.  This cave was a jail for the prisoners. The story says that because of the strange acoustical properties of the cave Dionysius was able to listen in on the prisoners from above, spying out anyone who might be fomenting rebellion or any other unsavory plotting among the prisoners.

The Ear of Dioysius from the inside.

Recognizable from all over town for its unique shape, is The Madonna of the Tears or Madonna delle Lacrime, a Catholic sanctuary built in 1953. It contains an image of Mary, the Mother of Christ which is said to have wept real tears for three days and has become a site of veneration for those seeking a miracle at the hand of the Holy Mother.

View of the Siracusa showing the distinct pointed edifice of the Madonna of the Tears.(Sailo)

The island of Ortygia is considered part of

Ponte Umbertino/Umbertino Bridge

Siracusa and is accessed by the Umbertino Bridge. It is the site of 2500 years of history packed into a 1km by 500m land area. This is the home of Archimedes, the engineer, mathematician and astronomer. He is known for the first calculation of pi, devising laws for the use of levers and pulleys, hydrostatics (fluid mechanics), and for the exclamation "Eureka! Eureka!". Archimedes suffered a cruel end. During the Second Punic War (212 BC), the Romans besieged the city for two years (Syracusa was a Greek settlement). Archimedes, aged 76, was fleeing the chaos carrying some of his scientific equipment. A Roman soldier killed him while he was fleeing, thinking that he was trying to run away with some kind of treasure.

Temple of Apollo.

Archimedes (Thoughtco)

On Ortygia Island there is also an ancient Greek ruin built in the 7^th century BC, the Temple of Apollo. It is the oldest Doric temple in Sicily. The temple relics have been transitioned over time into a Christian church, a mosque, and even a military barracks. Little is left of it today and it is now kept as a historical site. On the isle can also be found the Fonte Aretusa a fresh water spring from the river Ciane. There is a semi-circular pool next to the sea where the only natural papyrus in Europe grows and where the ducks frolic beside it. It is not surprising that there is a myth attached to the fountain, as is usual when investigating Ancient Greek historical places.

Baroque facade of the Syracuse Cathedral.

The main piazza (public town square) with the Syracuse cathedral has been turned into a UNESCO historical site. The original cathedral dates back to 480 BC and was originally a Greek temple of Athena. Over the years with different groups governing the city it has been turned into a Christian church and given a decorative Baroque facade. Inside the cathedral one can see the original Doric columns from the Greek structure incorporated into the architecture of the church.

Front of the Cathedral

Interior of the Cathedral showing columns from the ancient Greek Temple of Athena incorporated into the walls.(my photo).

At the very tip of the island Castello Maniace (Maniace Castle) sits brooding in the bright Sicilian sunshine. It is named after the Byzantine Commander, Giorgio Maniace. It was used as a citadel, royal residence and place of fortification for the defense of the city. The castle started out as an ancient fort (1038) and was rebuilt by Frederico II and fortified (1232 to 1240). Ancient Emperors and various Queens of Sicily have resided there. In the 1500's it was used as a prison, and after that the place was fortified again and continued being used as a site for the defense of the city, being renovated several times. It was the property of several Dukes over the years and has now been made a historical site which is open to touring by the public for a nominal fee and is a popular tourist attraction.

Castello Maniace, rebuilt in the early 1200's on top of a former ancient fort.

Interior Castello Maniace,.(my photo)

There is much to see, learn and appreciate from a visit to this gem of a city. Siracusa has remained a sought after destination for over 2000 years.