Syracuse is located in south-eastern Sicily. Its ruins evoke illustrious past vicissitudes, although the city is now a thriving industrial centre and tourist resort.
Its natural beauties and historic-artistic evidences attract thousands of tourists who flock to the city to spend exciting cultural holidays there.
The city provides a wide range of accommodation facilities which are able to welcome thousands of tourists flocking there from all over the world. Both 3-star guesthouses and 4-star hotels welcome visitors with high-quality services and utmost comfort, while cheap guesthouses provide accommodation at reasonable prices. Air-conditioned hotels are the ideal accommodation facilities to experience relaxing stays even during the hottest summers. The numerous hotels situated near the sea are the ideal solution for people who want to combine cultural holidays with the possibility to enjoy sun and sea.
Syracuse extends along the coast and the Ortigia islet facing it and is surrounded by a charming landscape. The coastal area snakes between the sea and the ruins dating back to the time when Greeks dominated the city, that is to say from 735 B.C., when it was founded, to 212 B.C., when it was conquered by the Romans.
The beautiful Neapolis quarter and its archaeological park, situated behind the modern city, feature the spectacular Greek theatre, the Roman amphitheatre and the stone quarries, the so-called Latomie. The Greek theatre, built in the Vth century B.C., was almost fully carved from the Temenite hillside on which one of the largest cavea in the world was built by the Greeks to host 15 thousand spectators. Even the nearby Roman amphitheatre, dating back to the IInd – IIIrd centuries, was partly carved out from the rock and is little smaller than the famous Arena of Verona. Only the lower part of the amphitheatre withstood the past vicissitudes, since it was repeatedly sacked by the Spanish who needed stones to build Ortigia.
Other interesting sights are the Latomie: stone quarries dating back to the Vth century B.C. which were used to build the Neapolis and later turned into poor houses and prisons. The Latomia of the Paradise is the most important one; it is 20-30 metres deep and originates from the 65-metre long and 23-metre-high artificial cave known as the Ear of Dionysius. Renowned for the name it was given by Caravaggio, it boasts an extraordinary acoustics and is able to amplify every kind of sound. The Latomia of the Paradise also hosts the cave of the Cordari, highly appreciated for its light effects, lush vegetation and rock colours. East, situated among some of the Latomie, is the Regional Museum, one of the most important archaeological museums in Italy.
Leaving the Neapolis behind, it is possible to reach the Ortigia islet. Its highlight is the extraordinary VIth-century Cathedral. Its Baroque facade dating back to 1728-54 masks the Temple of Athena, which has been absorbed into the Duomo.
Walking down the streets of Ortigia, visitors will have the opportunity to admire many buildings, churches and monuments, including the beautiful Maniace Castle, built in 1239 on the rock spur delimitating the Porto Grande east.
Syracuse is an appreciated seaside resort too due to its charming landscape, natural beauties, sea, beaches, cliffs and coves.
Thursday 08 January 2009
