Syracuse
the most beautiful city in Magna Graecia
History and Culture
The city of Syracuse lies along the Sicilian coast, between the waters of Porto Grande and the Iblei mountains.
Syracuse was founded by a group of Greek settlers and, the name of the city, comes from the Greek Sirako meaning swamp. Today, Syracuse, is a city with 127 thousand inhabitants distributed in the five neighborhoods that characterized the ancienturban centercalled “Pentapolis of Dionysus”: Akradina, Tike,Neapolis, Ortigia and Santa Lucia.
The origins of Syracuse date back to the 14th century bc.C. and refer to the remains of circular huts present on the islet of Ortigia. The island of Ortigia was the first inhabited settlement of ancient Syracuse that was founded in the 8th century BC.C the Corinthians. Later, in 485 BC.C., the city was conquered by Gelon, the titer of Gela who defeated the Carthagines in 480 bc.C.
With Gelon they began the warsand other Athens which continued until 415 bc.C. with the defeat of Athens. In the 3rd and 4th centuries .C. Syracuse fell under Roman rule that lasted until 476 .C. Various dominations followed, and from 663 to 668 Syracuse also became the capital of the Eastern Empire.
The Normans rediscovered the city in the 11th century and Frederick II of Swabia, in the thirteenth century, fortified the island of Ortigia with the Castle of Maniace.
In the 16th century, Charles V expanded and further fortified the city but, in 1693, a violent earthquake completely destroyed the center which wasrebuilt with Baroque-style buildings.
With the Unity of Italy, in 1860, the Spanish walls were demolished and the construction of the neighborhoods on land began.
ART: What to visit in Syracuse
- The Castello di Maniace that rises on the island of Ortigia
- the Cathedral erected in the 6th century on the temple of Athena dating back to the 5th century .C.
- The Church of San Giovanni, considered the first Christian church erected in Sicily, has a vast underground necropolis (13 km long) dating back to the 4th-5th century .C.
- the Greek Theatre, one of the largest in the Greek world. Made of rock by Damocopos,the theater is oriented towards the sea and has excellent acoustics.
- the Regional Museum that preserves numerous archaeological finds greek, Roman and early Christian of great prestige.
Nature and Beaches
in Syracuse and surroundings
The Fonte Ciane is a must visit for the beauty of its waters. Along the CianeRiver, papyri were cultivated in ancient times for the production of paper, which today are in short supply due to climate change.
The Latomie, large and ancient stone quarries today transformed into lush gardens.
The Grande Cava di Cassibile (nature reserve) formed by the river of the same name, 10 km long and 250 meters deep, in whose walls more than eight thousand cave tombs have been excavated.
The beaches:
Agnone Bagni
Costa dell’Ambra
Fontane Bianche
Penisola della Maddalena
Porto Palo
Riserva Naturale Del Plemmirio
Spiaggia di Eloro
Spiaggia di Gallina
Spiaggia di Punta Asparano
Spiaggia di Punta delle Formiche
Spiaggia di San Lorenzo
Spiaggia di Vendicari
Spiaggia Isola delle Correnti
Spiaggia Marianelli
Spiaggia Spinazza Marzamemi
Cuore di Palme
Strada 1a Medichicchio 29/4 - 96014 Floridia (Siracusa)