Syracuse: attractions on the map and photos

Many inhabitants of our planet believe that the city of Syracuse (Syracuse) is in Greece. But in fact, its location is Italy, although at one time they were really ruled by the Greeks. The letter "s" at the end of the name of the village also got from them, and it was in this city that Archimedes, Plato lived and created, staged his masterpieces of Aeschylus. Therefore, in spite of the fact that Syracuse is an Italian place, it can rightly be considered a Greek heritage.

History can not escape from history

Syracuse (sights and the oldest part of the settlement) were on the island of Ortigia. But this city grew at an incredibly fast pace and quickly turned into the largest population center in Sicily. In the period of maximum prosperity in Syracuse there were five quarters, the ruins of ancient buildings (the altar of Zeus Eleuterio, the Greek theater, the quarry, the Roman amphitheater and the grave of Archimedes). All these outstanding places in the vast majority are in the quarter, which is called Neapolis.

Already in the V century BC, Syracuse was the title of the largest city of Sicily. Also this megalopolis was one of the most influential settlements on the entire Mediterranean. Syracuse was ruled by many masters. But the most famous is the despot Dionysius I. He ruled the city for almost 40 years. And the fame of Dionysius I was brought by his cruel cruelty and pathological suspicion. As the legends say, the satrap, seeing a sharp razor in the hands of a barber, ordered a man to be crucified, because he decided that this subject could kill the ruler.

At one time in this city worked and lived the greatest of mathematicians - Archimedes. Syracuse, whose attractions - it's something unforgettable, can boast Piazza Archimedes - an area named after the scientist. The 75-year-old mathematician was responsible for the technical side of the defense during military confrontations with the Romans and the multi-month siege of Syracuse. According to historians, at this time, Archimedes used in practice some machines, which, in fact, he himself invented.

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

Cave in the shape of an ear

If you do not know what to see in Syracuse, then our advice to you: start your excursion by visiting the Ear of Dionysius. It is a limestone artificial cave, which was knocked out in the rocks of Temenite. The strange name of the object was due to the fact that it resembles the human ear in shape.

Most likely, this landmark was formed where there was once an ancient quarry. Such quarries Siracusa were famous for the whole world. The cave reaches a height of 23 meters. And in the depths of the rock, its length is 65 meters. Considering the Ear of Dionysius from the helicopter, you can notice that the cave on the curve resembles the letter S. And the entrance here is like a drop. Thanks to this form, the cave has unsurpassed acoustics. Even a quiet whisper of visitors will be heard throughout its territory. A map of Syracuse with sights will show you where this unsurpassed object is located.

Cathedral in Syracuse

You can not go to Syracuse and not see the Cathedral of this city. After all, this object is considered the pearl of a magnificent local area. This temple was the richest place in ancient Greece. And so it was not a big surprise that the church was repeatedly robbed. In the first century BC, the greatest damage was caused to the church of the city of Syracuse. The sights, photos of which are presented in our article, fortunately, have been preserved. Residents are proud of the fact that in the territory of their city there is such a majestic monument of architecture.

On the example of the Cathedral you can see the peculiarities of the Italian church architecture.

Greek Theater in Italy

Syracuse, whose sights we are considering, are known for the fact that the Greeks lived here. And in the city there are many objects that prove this truth. One such is the Greek theater - a grandiose monument, reminiscent of the era of Antiquity. Its creator was a satrap named Djelon. And the architect was Domokolos. The theater, like the Ear of Dionysius, was carved into the Temenite rock. In it, people's congresses were held, comedies and tragedies were staged. Even today, every two years, classical performances are demonstrated here by the National Institute of Ancient Drama.

All Museums Museum

Each city has a museum, which is definitely worth a visit. Syracuse (Sicily), the sights of which are mainly ancient objects, also have such. And his name is the museum of the Palazzo Bellomo. It is located on the island of Ortigia. The institution was opened in the late 40s of the last century, but only after 30 years it was finally staffed. Today, among the museum exhibits can be called the sarcophagi Giovanni Cabastida and Giovanni Cardenas. Palazzo Bellomo looks like a magnificent palace, which was built in the XIII-XIV centuries. The building has a long history, and it was turned into a museum only in the middle of the last century.

A few words of farewell

Syracuse (sights in particular) will leave an indelible impression on every traveler. And let this city today is quite small (its population is about 120 thousand people), but it is just full of different archaeological and cultural objects. All of them have witnessed this or that era. And today these outstanding places tell each person the story of their life, causing the soul to tremble, and the heart to beat violently.