Return to Syracuse photos

Siracuse is a beautiful city situated on the southeastern coast of Sicily, part of which is on the island of Ortigia (Ortygia), heart of the most ancient section, and part on the mainland, the island being connected by a bridge. The city was founded on the island in 734 BC by Greek Corinthian colonists, making it the "first city" of Greek origin in Sicily. In 7C and 6C BC the city expanded to the mainland. After defeating the Carthaginians in 397 BC, they made the mistake of siding with them against the Romans, and were defeated by the Romans in 214 BC. Perhaps the most famous citizen (who tried in vain to protect the city from the Romans) was Archimedes. Like all good Sicilian cities, it went through many hands-Saracens (878), Normans (1085), then Genoans and Pisans. The city was almost entirely destroyed (along with most of eastern Sicily) by an earthquake in 1693, but was rebuilt and remains a major port.

In addition to the historic island of Ortygia (see photos), the city features the area called Neapolis, in which most of the pictures here were taken. The Greek theater (seating 15,000) was carved almost entirely out of the bedrock, sometime in 5C BC, with major additions/rebuilding in 3-2C BC under the guidance of Hiero II. Nearby is the Hiero's altar to Zeus, the largest surviving sacrificial (animals) altar of the Greek period. The Roman Amphitheater is the third largest in the world (after the Coliseum in Rome and the Arena in Verona; see those cities). This magnificent structure was almost completely destroyed by the Spanish, 16C.

The extensive quarries in Neapolis include some fascinating grotto or "latomia" structures. The grotto of Dionysius, called the "Ear of Dionysius" is a cave, 65m long, 23m high, and 5-11m wide. It was named this after the legend that Dionysius took advantage of the amazing acoustics in the cave to listen from above to what prisoners were saying after he had closed them in. The Rope Makers Grotto is so called because here rope was produced for centuries and until very recently. There are several other such grottoes in the area which is now a lush public garden.