The ancient Greek city of Syracuse is its modern name. Syracuse: "From the ancient Greek metropolis to the Italian regional center." Temple of Our Lady of Tears

The Sicilian city of Syracuse is a product of ancient Greek civilization. It was the Greeks who founded the city of Syracuse on the eastern coast of Sicily in the 7th century BC (as it was called antique city, in the modern name there is an “a” at the end). Then the Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Spaniards, and Austrians took turns in possession of the tasty piece of sushi. All this historical leapfrog continued until the mid-19th century, until Sicily became part of a united Italy.

Of course, the lion's share of traces of the past millennia has not survived to this day, but still Syracuse has something to present as evidence of its long, very long history.

The oldest district of Syracuse, from which, in fact, the history of the Greek colony began, is located on the island of Ortigi.

There are two bridges leading from the “mainland” to the island.

Between the bridges there is a concrete platform on which stands a monument to the most famous resident of ancient Syracuse - Archimedes.

Short streets from both bridges lead to Piazza Largo XXV Luglio, where among green grass the remains of the ancient Temple of Apollo can be seen.

Built in the 5th century BC greek temple later it managed to be a Byzantine church, an Arab mosque, and then again a Christian Norman temple. In the 16th century, the Spaniards turned the church into a barracks and built it up on all sides. And only in the second half of the century before last they discovered that fragments of an ancient structure had been preserved within the walls of the Spanish barracks. Excavations and clearing of the monument already in 1938 - 1942. was conducted by the famous Sicilian archaeologist Paolo Orsi, whose name is given to the Syracuse Archaeological Museum.

To the left of the ancient temple is the old market. You can enter it from Via Trento.

And to the right of the temple, the main shopping street of Syracuse, Corso Matteotti, goes deep into the island. The street is lined with modern panel houses and can only be of any interest from a shopping point of view.

Corso Matteotti opens onto Piazza Archimede.

There are no traces of Archimedes on the square, but in its center there is a beautiful fountain “Artemis the Huntress”.

But behind Piazza Archimede the narrow, colorful streets of the medieval city begin.

They lead to the large and beautiful Piazza Duomo.

The first temple on the site of the current one Cathedral the Greeks built it in the 5th century BC. Then it was rebuilt by the Byzantines, then by the Normans. A strong earthquake in 1693 destroyed the old church. The new cathedral was rebuilt in the Sicilian Baroque style.

Columns on the left side of the building have been preserved from the ancient temple. They are clearly visible both outside and inside.

To the left of the Duomo is the City Hall.

On the right is the Bishop's Palace.

The entire opposite side of the square is built up with lush palazzos.

At the far end of Piazza Duomo you can see the Chiesa di Santa Lucia alla Badia. The church was founded in the 15th century on the site where it received martyrdom Saint Lucia.

The church was a monastery, but the monastery buildings did not survive the earthquake of 1693. In the main altar of the church there is Caravaggio's work "The Burial of St. Lucia". Photography of the painting, alas, is prohibited.

The street along the side facade of the church leads to the seashore and to the “Source of Arethusa”.

The spring is named after the nymph Arethusa, who was harassed by the river god Alpheus. Yes, the ancient Greeks did not have an article on harassment!

In fact the source is powered groundwater, which flow from the Iblean mountains. Real papyrus grows in the lake around the spring.

It turned out that the area near Syracuse is perfect for this plant; it is grown here, and there is even a Papyrus Museum in Syracuse.

From the “Source of Arethusa” along the seashore there is a not very long, but pleasant pedestrian embankment, on which coastal restaurants set up their tables.

The embankment, as well as the street parallel to it, leads to the impressive medieval castle "Castello Maniace". The castle guarding the entrance to Syracuse harbor was built in the 13th century and named after the Byzantine commander Gergius Maniacus, who liberated Syracuse from the Arabs in the 11th century. By the way, this territory still belongs to the military.

It must be said that the ancient Greek city of Syracuse was huge, half a million people lived in it! Naturally, the island of Ortigi very soon became too small for the rapidly growing metropolis, and new areas began to capture more and more new territories on the “mainland”.

So, a few kilometers northwest of Ortigia, in the 5th century BC, the area of ​​​​"Neapolis" arose, that is, " New town". Unlike other “new” areas of Greek Syracuse, which over the course of thousands of years were endlessly rebuilt and reshaped, with Neapolis we could all be said to be lucky: the remote area was abandoned until the middle of the last century, and we received a “inheritance” of relatively well-preserved monuments of ancient civilization.

On Via Francesco Saverio Cavallari is the entrance to the Archaeological Park of Syracuse.

The best preserved is the colossal Greek Theatre, built in the 5th century BC.

The Kavea theater is truly amazing: 9 sectors and 67 tiers!

Despite minor alterations carried out in the 3rd century BC. e. by the Greeks and even later by the Romans, general structure theater remained unchanged.

At the very top of the cave there was an open terrace with niches.

Behind the theater there is an ancient quarry ("Latomia Paradiso").

Stone mining open method was carried out here from at least the 6th century BC.

Now the former quarry looks like a beautiful flowering garden with paths, but it once housed convicts.

Escape from a stone bag, whose steep walls reach 40 meters, is not an easy task. Prisoners, mostly prisoners of war, died in this “paradise” by the thousands.

In Latomia there is also an entrance to a colossal artificial cave, called the “Ear of Dionysius” / “Orecchio di Dionigi”.

Legend says that the tyrant Dionysius ordered the grotto to be cut down in order to eavesdrop on the conversations of the convicts in the quarry. But scientists don’t believe the fairy tales and believe that the cave was built to improve the acoustics of the theater.

Even from the ancient Greeks, the remains of the “Altar of Hieron” / “Ara di Ierone” have been preserved.

The sacrificial altar, almost 200 meters long, was built in the 3rd century BC. e. In front of the altar there was a colonnade and a garden. This is the most grandiose structure of this type on our planet, albeit conditionally preserved. In the 16th century, the Spaniards stole the stones of the priceless monument to build defensive structures, and all that remains of the altar is a grass-covered foundation.

Next to the sacrificial altar is a Roman amphitheater built in the 1st century BC.

The north-eastern side of the amphitheater is well preserved, as it is simply carved into the rock.

The underground corridors through which gladiators and animals entered the arena are clearly visible.

If you have already reached the Archaeological Park, which is far from the city center, then it makes sense to stay a little longer in this area and examine the nearby monuments of ancient, ancient and even completely modern history, located literally a ten-minute walk from the Archaeological Park.

From the entrance to the Archaeological Park, the street Viale Augusto runs along the stadium, which after a small square turns into Viale Teocrito. The area here is relatively new, it was built up in the second half of the last century, and along the street there is, in general, nothing to look at, until the tall, 74-meter, shiny dome of the Church of the Weeping Madonna / Santuario Madonna appears in the street alignment delle Lacrime."

At the top of the spire is a 20-meter bronze statue of the Madonna.

The history of the appearance of the temple is as follows: in 1953, a small icon of the Madonna “cried” for one pious married couple. After a general uproar in the 1960s, construction of the santuarium began. Construction took almost 30 years, and finally, in the 1990s, the church was consecrated.

A hundred meters from the church in Piazza San Marciano rise the walls of the ruined Church of San Giovanni.

The church was built by the Normans in the 12th century over the burial place of St. Marcian, the first bishop of Syracuse.

The church did not survive the earthquake of 1693 and still stands destroyed, without a roof. At the same time, services in the temple are still going on, right in the open air.

12th century crypt with the burial of St. Marciana was preserved safe and sound.

Near the walls of the church is the entrance to the catacombs of San Giovanni. Early Christian catacombs with burials from the 4th to 6th centuries are second in size after the Roman ones. However, problems may arise with visiting the catacombs. Firstly, they work with a two-hour break for lunch. Secondly, independent exploration of the dungeons without a guide is impossible. That is, you will have to wait for the start of the organized excursion, but it may turn out to be unpredictable, there is no strict schedule, plus the excursion itself takes almost an hour. Therefore, if you have an irresistible desire to visit the catacombs, to be sure, you should include two hours in your plan, just in case.

Almost opposite the Church of the Weeping Madonna on Via Teocrito is the Paolo Orsi Archaeological Museum.

There is a stable expression - “hoary antiquity”. It is surprisingly appropriate when talking about the city of Syracuse, located on the Italian island of Sicily. The name of the city is known to many people, because everyone at school has at least heard about the ancient Greek scientist Archimedes, a resident of Syracuse. By the way, a native of this city was Methodius, one of the creators (along with Kirill) of our alphabet - the Cyrillic alphabet. The sights of Syracuse are very interesting!

The first mention of Syracuse dates back to 734 BC; the streets of the city are filled with archaeological sites. The oldest part, a small island Ortygia(Ortigia), or Ortigia, is entirely related to objects World Heritage UNESCO.

The mystery of the historical wealth of this Sicilian city is explained not only by its antiquity. Fate worked out in such a way that different times were the owners here Greeks And Romans, Byzantines And Arabs, people from Northern Europe. Each of these peoples did not destroy cultural achievements previous owners, but retained them and supplemented them with his own.

When coming to Syracuse on vacation or on an excursion, you should understand that all its attractions are primarily of historical importance. The city will be of interest primarily to history buffs and archeology fans.

People are always attracted not just by history, but by ancient history. It is represented in Syracuse by the so-called archaeological zone, and this is where tourists flock the most. In this zone, representing the era of Ancient Greece and Rome. Time passed, the city was built and grew. Many monuments of the Middle Ages appeared and new era. The most popular objects are the following.

Cave "Ear of Dionysius"

These are the remains of ancient quarries located on the site of a natural cave. Exist different versions such a name. The entrance to the caves actually resembles the ear of a donkey or horse. The cave has amazing acoustics; it is not for nothing that this cavity was used as a theater in Roman times. According to legend, the tyrant Dionysius threw his prisoners and criminals into the cave: excellent audibility allowed the guards to find out what the prisoners were whispering about.

Capuchin quarries.

This is the name given to other famous quarries in Syracuse. Stone blocks have been mined here for centuries, resulting in the formation of adits with amazing outlines, reminiscent of bizarre halls with columns and pylons. Over time, many of the halls collapsed, given that in Sicily there are strong earthquakes. In the Middle Ages, this strange, abandoned place was chosen by the Capuchin monks, who founded a luxurious garden here.

There are other quarries in Syracuse, but they are much younger than the ancient ones. Here, in the first centuries new era, early Christian communities gathered. The Catacombs of San Giovanni are popular among tourists who want to thrill themselves in the dark dungeons. A guide is definitely needed here, because it is very easy for an ignorant person to get lost in the dark passages.

Greek theater

Many visitors tend to consider it the calling card of the city. The theater is well preserved, considering that it was built in V century BC uh. It is located on a high hill, offering a wonderful view of the city. At one time, the theater was one of the largest in Greece, and then in Rome (the Romans held gladiatorial battles there).

Unfortunately, in the Middle Ages, the Spaniards dismantled part of the structure to fortify the island of Ortigia. But even now " auditorium", carved into a rocky slope, can accommodate up to 15,000 spectators! This theater is considered classic example ancient architecture.

Roman amphitheater

Like the quarry, the Greek theater has its “rival” in Syracuse. This is a Roman amphitheater. It is about four centuries younger than the Greek theater, but rivals it in size - the third largest amphitheater in Italy, after the famous Colosseum and the amphitheater in Verona. Excavated by archaeologists in 1839, it has the shape of an ellipse.

In addition to the large amphitheater, the Romans left in Syracuse the largest altar for sacrifices, called altar of Hieron II. It was built three centuries BC, and was intended for offerings to Zeus. There is evidence that 200 bulls were sacrificed here every year!

Ruins of the Temple of Apollo

The temple is the pride of the island of Ortigia, it was built even before the Greek theater. Scientists have discovered a temple in mid-19th centuries, but it was truly discovered for science by the legendary archaeologist Paolo Orsi. There is an opinion that the temple was the first big building city, its grandeur is indicated by the results of excavations.

If you walk from the ruins of the temple along Matteoti Street, you can smoothly “move” in time from antiquity to the Middle Ages, and get to the popular Archimedes Square.

Archimedes Square

The square is famous throughout Italy Artemis fountain, where the goddess is depicted surrounded by nymphs.

Cathedral Square and Cathedral

Not far from Archimedes Square is another famous square of the city, Cathedral Square, with a majestic building Cathedral (Duomo).

The cathedral is located in the highest part of the island, striking with its grandeur and solemnity. It looks no less magnificent from the inside. It must be said that the appearance that the cathedral has now, it acquired only in the 18th century. Before this, the building was radically rebuilt several times, destroyed by time and earthquakes. Several ancient buildings have been preserved within its walls as built-in elements. antique columns- the modest remains of the temple of the goddess Athena, which the Greeks built here. (And, by the way, excavations claim that even the Greeks erected a building on the site of an even older one, possibly created by the Carthaginians).

In front of the cathedral building there is a funny monument to Archimedes, the aluminum figure of which is immersed in the ground, as if in a layer of water (a hint at his guess about the weight of the body, which supposedly came to Archimedes while bathing in the bath).

Castello Maniace

The whole of Italy is proud of the Maniace Castle, on the seashore. It was built as a fortress, named after George Maniak, who conquered Sicily for Byzantium. In past times, the castle-fortress was the residence of the Sicilian kings, then there was a prison and military barracks. Now the castle is filled with tourists; visiting it takes a lot of time and is very interesting.

Chapel del Sepolcro di Santa Lucia.

Caravaggio's painting "The Burial of Saint Lucia" is periodically shown in this church. This saint played a prominent role in the history of Syracuse and is considered the patron saint of ancient city. The saint's relics were initially located in a tomb outside the city walls. The already mentioned Maniac stole them from the catacombs and took them to Constantinople. In the chapel there is still a trace of the destroyed wall, in which the relics of the saint supposedly resided.

Church of the Madonna della Lacrime

Unlike previous buildings, this building will not boast of antiquity. On the contrary, it is very young, built in 1994. However, the temple is incredibly popular among tourists; everyone who comes to the city watches it. Externally, the building resembles a giant badminton shuttlecock.

The Church of the Weeping Madonna (this is how its name is translated) was built with donations from the townspeople. The building is visible from any part of Syracuse, especially thanks to the 20-meter Madonna towering above the building. Previously, there was a church on the site of the temple, and one day, supposedly, tears flowed from the eyes of the icon of the Mother of God located inside the church... It was decided to demolish the small building and build another, more pompous structure in honor of the miracle revealed.

Archaeological Museum of Paolo Orsi

Belongs to the most famous and prestigious museums in Europe, largest museum islands of Sicily. It has been working for almost a century and a half. Its huge halls display the entire history of Sicily and Southern Italy. To get acquainted with all its exhibits, you should have a lot of time and effort, because the artifacts are located on an area of ​​​​about 12 km². The exhibits predominate from ancient times.

There are several more in Syracuse interesting museums, among which it is worth highlighting Papyrus Museum and Puppet Museum. The latter will be interesting to children.

Children also enjoy going to Aquarium, next to which a famous source of Arethusa. A special papyrus grows in the spring, and there is a legend that it is here, near the lake with fresh water, the city was born. If the water disappears, the life of ancient Syracuse will cease.

Of course, this is not a complete list of attractions of the ancient Sicilian city of Syracuse. It is worth coming here to see the streets of Syracuse, which have become one of the cradles of European civilization!

Excursions to Syracuse

Syracuse is extremely interesting city. And the overview of the sights of Syracuse presented here is far from complete. To understand the atmosphere of the city, you need to slowly stroll through the streets of Ortigia, where every house breathes history. Look into the temples, admire the Ionian Sea. And of course, hear a story about the city’s past, learn the history of this powerful outpost of ancient civilizations. You can read articles about the history of the city, but it is better, of course, to take an experienced guide and combine sightseeing with exciting stories these places.

You can read about excursions to Syracuse in our article “Excursion to Syracuse.” There are two ways to submit a request for a tour:

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What are the main attractions in Syracuse, Sicily?

Sicilian Syracuse (Siracusa) - a place that seems to have materialized from ancient greek myths and legends. A series of dizzying ups and devastating falls haunted this city in the pre-Christian era. His fate in our era was no less alarming. And yet, the Italians managed to turn Syracuse into a lively and colorful historical monument, preserve its attractions, and organize the most beautiful place for cultural tourism and beach holidays. Let's take a look at one of the most significant cities on the island, enjoy its views and dive a little into the past.

There are many buildings left in Syracuse made by the ancient Greeks. The remains of majestic objects erected by the Hellenes are considered monuments of the World historical heritage. The gray stones cutting through the bright greenery are protected by UNESCO. Getting to know the history of the Ancient World and capturing the main attractions is an extraordinary experience that city guests crave.

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It seems possible to travel 25 centuries into the past in the archaeological region of Syracuse - Neapolis. Its largest exhibit is the ruins of the Greek Theater (Teatro greco), built in the 5th century BC. The landmark has undergone two reconstructions: in the Carthaginian and Roman periods. The huge amphitheater, with a capacity of 15 thousand people, was used as a place for cultural events and political meetings. During the reign of the Spaniards in Sicily, part of the stones of the ancient theater were used to build a fort on the islet of Ortigia.

United Italy took the historical monument under its wing. Archaeological excavations were carried out on the territory of the Greek Theater. The stone structure was cleared and restored. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the National Institute ancient drama Italy is satisfied annual festivals Greek art on the theater stage. Watching a Greek comedy or tragedy in an authentic Hellenic theater is one of the most memorable moments that you can keep as a souvenir from Syracuse and even Italy itself.

Another monument of ancient Syracuse is the Roman Amphitheater (Anfiteatro romano). It was built for public entertainment in the 1st century BC. The public was invited to enjoy gladiator fights. This landmark was buried underground for a long time, until archaeologists brought it to light in the middle of the 19th century. In terms of scale, the amphitheater in Syracuse ranks third after similar buildings in and.

Near the Greek Theater you can admire the grotto with the poetic name Ear of Dionysius (Orecchio di Dionisio). Nature itself showed the wonders of architectural art by carving the entrance to this cave in the form of an auricle. However, the purpose of this grotto is far from romantic. During the time of tyranny, there was a ruler, Dionysus (IV century BC), who organized a dungeon in the cave. Dionysus tortured his captives and locked them in cells. The special internal structure of the cave allowed the insidious tyrant to eavesdrop on the conversations of the captives.

While walking around Neapolis, it is worth looking at the Altar of Hieron (Ara di Ierone II), built in the 3rd century BC. He served the tyrant of Syracuse in order to make sacrifices to the gods. Killed bulls were placed on an impressively sized pedestal, several dozen or even hundreds at a time!

The Temple of Apollo (Tempio di Apollo), located on the island of Ortigia, looks contrasting against the background of modern buildings. Until the 19th century, the remains of the temple were hidden from the eyes of travelers. An archaeological team led by Paolo Orsi revealed the ruins to the world ancient temple, presumably built in the 3rd century BC. The gray steps, partially preserved columns and part of the wall give some idea of ​​what the building looked like in its heyday.

An inscription on one of the surviving stones of the temple allowed scientists to identify the patron who was worshiped by the inhabitants of the island. It is also known that over time the temple managed to serve the Christian conquerors from Byzantium and the Muslim invaders of Sicily. The Normans also managed to make their contribution.

By the way, in order to get a clear idea of ​​the culture of the peoples who alternately dominate Sicily, the Regional Museum of Archeology Paolo Orsi (Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi) was opened in Syracuse. The archaeologist under whose leadership the rediscovery most of ancient monuments, collected many exhibits from ancient Greek, Carthaginian, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Norman, Spanish and other periods. The museum has been operating since 1878 and is very popular. Ticket price: 8 euros.

• Official website of the museum: www.regione.sicilia.it

The Catacombs of St. John (Catacombe Di San Giovanni), which appeared near Syracuse in Christian times (IV century AD), also deserve attention. Paolo Orsi devoted a scrupulous study of this object last decade XIX century. The underground halls were used in the early Christian era for the burial of influential people of the city. Ancient crypts are skillfully decorated with patterns and involuntarily fascinate visitors. Of greatest interest is the sarcophagus of the first bishop of Syracuse, Marcian (Marziano di Siracusa).

It is curious that the catacombs got their name thanks to the church built by the Normans above the entrance to the dungeon. Saint John the Theologian gave his name not only to the temple, but also to previously unnamed underground communications. The inhabitants of Syracuse actively used the caves in the period from the 4th to the 6th centuries. However, they were well preserved and served the population again during the Second World War. The Catacombs of St. John sheltered the alarmed Italians from bombing.

In the historical part of the city you can stroll along the picturesque street Corso Matteotti. Low buildings along the street greet travelers with light-colored facades. A true decoration of the old city is the small Archimedes Square (Piazza Archimede), dedicated to the famous resident of the city. In the center of the square there is a fountain decorated sculptural group led by Artemis the Hunter. The author of the sculptures is the architect Giulio Moschetti.

Cathedral

Another interesting attraction of Syracuse is the city’s cathedral. On the site of the Duomo in the 5th century BC. A temple dedicated to Athena was built. Thus, the tyrant Gelon immortalized his victory over Carthage. The building, like the Temple of Apollo, has undergone a number of transformations. It was rebuilt by the Byzantines, then by the Normans.

The temple suffered great destruction during the earthquake in Sicily in 1693. During the restoration, the temple was rebuilt in the Sicilian Baroque fashion. To the credit of the builders, it is worth noting that several antique columns that have survived from the time ancient Greek period, were organically integrated into medieval design. Surviving fragments ancient architecture, were moved by caring Italians to the Paolo Orsi Museum of Archeology.

Looking inside the cathedral, the visitor will find himself under a beautiful painted dome. The 17th century frescoes by Augustino Scilla and Luigi Vanvitelli make a deep impression thanks to color scheme And biblical stories. The decoration of the cathedral uses a harmonious combination of light rusticated stone and gilded decor. We advise you to admire this attraction yourself!

The intricate top of the church of Santa Lucia alla Badia involuntarily attracts the attention of guests of Syracuse. This building is smaller in size than the Duomo, but surprises with its architecture. The church, nestled on the edge of Cathedral Square, bears the name of the patron saint of the city. There is a whole legend regarding the person of Saint Lucia.

The Legend of Saint Lucia

Once upon a time, there lived in Syracuse a beautiful girl named Lucia. She was pious and decided to devote herself to the church. The vow of celibacy upset the girl's parents and the man to whom she was promised. The treacherous groom decided to take revenge on his beloved. He demanded that Lucia, who had turned away from him, be sent to a brothel. However, the girl’s faith was so strong that not a single soldier or any other person could move the pious one from her place.

To continue your walk around Syracuse, via Picherali is ideal. This street will lead travelers to the picturesque embankment. You can completely surrender to the sound of the waves and the whisper of the wind, absorbing all the delights of the sea panorama. Or turn your attention to the Aretusa spring (Fontana Aretusa).

According to the legends of the ancient Greeks, Arethusa is a beautiful river nymph who tried to hide from the god Alpheus. The powerful Artemis helped the girl by turning her into a stream. Seeing this, Alpheus turned into the sea. He stayed next to his beloved, weaving gentle waters streams with powerful sea currents.

The most modern landmark of the city is the Church of the Weeping Madonna (Madonna delle Lacrime). In 1953, in the home of ordinary residents of Syracuse, an incident occurred. amazing event- the image of the Holy Madonna cried. For some time, the icon shedding tears was a local curiosity, until news of it reached. For some time, the holy fathers decided whether such a miracle was worthy of high confidence. Finally, in the 70s of the 20th century, the Weeping Madonna was recognized as a miracle. It was decided to build a church in her honor.

The Church of the Weeping Madonna was completed in 1994. The building amazes with its amazing architecture; it does not look like any classic catholic church. Looking at it from a bird's eye view, you can see a silver star. And if you admire the building from the ground, you can see a ribbed cone topped with a golden statue of the Madonna.

Surprisingly, the church is made of wood and its height is 75 meters.

There are simply no buildings of this height in Syracuse, so the church spire can be seen anywhere in the city. The interior decoration of the church is also famous for its originality and beauty. There are three thematic exhibitions at the Church of the Weeping Madonna: an exhibition dedicated to the miraculous tearful face, a museum of offerings to the Holy Madonna and an exhibition of festive clothes for the priests of the church.

Palaces

Just a 10-minute walk from the Cathedral Square is one of the palaces of the city of Syracuse. The Vermexio Palace (Palazzo del Vermexio), also known as the Senate Palace, was built in 1633 for the needs of the city authorities. The architect of this mansion was Giovanni Vermexio. In the external appearance of the palace one can clearly feel the creator’s inclination towards strict geometric shapes and clear lines. The main part of the building is a precisely calibrated cube, to the side faces of which two additional wings were later added.

In the external decoration of the palace two contrast architectural style. The first tier of the building was made in the Renaissance style, and the second gravitates toward luxurious Baroque decoration. Along the second floor of the Vermexio Palace there is a balcony equipped with elegant wrought iron railings. The windows and the door to the balcony are equipped with sculptural decorations. The rich decoration of the upper part of the building deserves special attention. By the way, the architect, who bore the nickname “lizard” for his thinness, marked the palace building with this humorous symbol.

Vermexio's perfectionism regarding the proportions of the building was trampled by the added attic layer. And in the 20th century, the growing needs of the city municipality required the addition of two rectangular wings to the cube of the palace.

The island of Ortigia is home to another attraction - the Montalto Palace (Palazzo Montalto). This building was built at the expense of the noble Sicilian Machota Mergulese at the end of the 14th century. During the Kingdom of Aragon, the palace passed into the hands of Filippo Montalto, hence its modern name. In the 19th century, the palace was given over to the needs of doctors and nurses fighting the cholera epidemic. Subsequently, it became the seat of the Order of the Daughters of Charity.

In the external appearance of the Montalto Palace one can feel the strong influence of the Gothic style, as well as the Palermo school of architecture. Near the building there is an archaeological excavation area. Perhaps in the future, old secrets carefully kept by the island will be revealed.

The Moniace Palace (Castello Maniace) is the most monumental and prominent building of Syracuse. It is located in the southernmost part of the island of Ortigia and the date of its foundation is considered to be 1240. The castle owes its name to the Byzantine commander Maniac (Moniace), who managed to wrest Sicily from the clutches of Arab invaders in the 11th century. The palace appeared during the Kingdom of Sicily thanks to the patronage of Emperor Frederick II.

According to some reports, the construction of the palace was supervised by the architect Riccardo da Lentini. He made every effort to ensure that the castle satisfied the needs of the most influential persons of the state. For a long time the Palace of Moniace was the residence of the Emperor of Sicily, then this castle was chosen by the monarchs of the Kingdom of Aragon. And in the middle of the 16th century, the social life of the palace ended, it was reoriented to military needs. The fortifications were tightly adjacent to the palace building, forming a powerful defensive complex on the southern tip of the island of Ortigia.

In the 18th century, ammunition was stored in the premises of Moniace Castle, which led to an accident. The detonated charges caused considerable damage to the palace. For a short period of time, the damaged castle was at rest until Emperor Napoleon turned his attention to it. For a long time, the fortress fulfilled its military function, and the palace building served as barracks for artillery regiments.

It was possible to return the secular luster to Moniace Castle in the 20th century. The formidable and impregnable fortress was restored and began to receive visitors as a landmark of Syracuse.

Many inhabitants of our planet believe that the city of Syracuse (Syracuse) is located in Greece. But its actual location is Italy, although at one time it was actually ruled by the Greeks. The letter “y” at the end of the name of the locality also came from them, and it was in this city that Archimedes, Plato lived and worked, and Aeschylus staged his masterpieces. Therefore, despite the fact that Syracuse is an Italian place, it can rightfully be considered a Greek heritage.

There's no escaping history

Syracuse (the landmarks and the oldest part of the settlement) was located on the island of Ortigia. But this city grew at an incredibly high rate and quickly became the largest settlement in all of Sicily. At its peak, Syracuse had five quarters, ruins of buildings from ancient times (the altar of Zeus Eleutherio, the Greek theater, quarries, the Roman amphitheater and the tomb of Archimedes). All these outstanding places are overwhelmingly located in the quarter called Neapolis.

Already in the 5th century BC, Syracuse bore the title of the largest. This metropolis was also one of the most influential settlements in the entire Mediterranean. Syracuse was ruled by many rulers. But the most famous is the despot Dionysius I. He ruled the city for almost 40 years. And the glory of Dionysius I was brought by his bestial cruelty and pathological suspicion. As legends say, the satrap, seeing a sharp razor in the hands of a barber, ordered the man to be crucified, because he decided that this object could kill the ruler.

At one time, the greatest of mathematicians, Archimedes, worked and lived in this city. Syracuse, whose attractions are something unforgettable, boasts the Piazza Archimedes, a square named after the scientist. The 75-year-old mathematician happened to be responsible for technical side defense during military confrontations with the Romans and the months-long siege of Syracuse. According to historians, at this time Archimedes put into practice some machines that he himself had invented.

After all these events, the city lost its significance. And after the Arabs moved the capital of the island of Syracuse to Palermo, it turned into a provincial provincial town.

Ear Cave

If you don’t know what to see in Syracuse, then our advice is to start your excursion by visiting the Ear of Dionysius. It is a limestone artificial cave, which was carved out of the Temenite rocks. The strange name of the object comes from the fact that it is shaped like a human ear.

Most likely, this attraction was formed where there once was an ancient quarry. Syracuse was famous throughout the world for such quarries. The height of the cave reaches 23 meters. And the depth of the rock is 65 meters long. Looking at the Ear of Dionysius from a helicopter, you will notice that the curve of the cave resembles the letter S. And the entrance here looks like a drop. Thanks to this shape, the cave has unsurpassed acoustics. Even the quiet whisper of visitors will be heard throughout its territory. The Syracuse landmarks map will show you where this unrivaled site is located.

in Syracuse

You can't visit Syracuse without seeing the city's Cathedral. After all, this object is considered the pearl of a magnificent local square. This temple was the richest place in Ancient Greece. And therefore it was not a big surprise that the temple was robbed more than once. In the first century BC, the greatest damage was caused to the church of the city of Syracuse. Fortunately, the sights, photos of which are presented in our article, have been preserved. Residents are proud that such a majestic architectural monument is located on the territory of their city.

Using the example of the Cathedral, you can get acquainted with the features of the Italian church architecture.

in Italy

Syracuse, the sights of which we are considering, is known for the fact that the Greeks lived here. And there are many objects in the city that prove this truth. One of these is the Greek theater - a grandiose monument reminiscent of the era of Antiquity. Its creator was a satrap named Jelon. And Domokolos became the architect. The theater, like the Ear of Dionysius, was carved out of the Temenite rock. It was spent public assemblies, staged comedies and tragedies. Even today, classical performances are shown here every two years by the National Institute of Ancient Drama.

All museums museum

Every city has a museum that is definitely worth a visit. Syracuse (Sicily), whose attractions are mainly ancient sites, also has one. And its name is the Palazzo Bellomo Museum. It is located on the island of Ortigia. The establishment was opened back in the late 40s of the last century, but only 30 years later it was finally staffed. Today, among the museum exhibits are the sarcophagi of Giovanni Cabastida and Giovanni Cardenas. Palazzo Bellomo looks like a magnificent palace that was built in the 13th-14th centuries. Near the building Long story, and it was turned into a museum only in the middle of the last century.

A few words in parting

Syracuse (its attractions in particular) will leave a lasting impression on every traveler. And even though this city is very small today (its population is approximately 120 thousand people), it is simply overflowing with various archaeological and cultural sites. All of them witnessed one era or another. And today these outstanding places tell every person the story of their life, making the soul tremble and the heart beat strongly.