Book Cheap Flights to Syracuse (SYR)

Latomia del Paradiso and the Ear of Dionysius

The Latomia are ancient stone quarries, which were worked from the sixth century BC onwards and eventually dug more than 20 meters down into the limestone. The largest and best known of these is the Latomia del Paradiso, part of the Parco Archeologico della Neapolis

Santa Maria delle Colonne (Cathedral)

The fascination of Syracuse's cathedral, like so many other landmarks of Sicily, is its evolution showing the island's various periods and rulers. That is particularly evident in this building - one entire outer wall is formed by the Doric columns of the ancient Temple of Athena

San Giovanni Crypt and Catacombs

Originally built in the Early Christian period, the church of San Giovanni was extended in the sixth century, destroyed by the Saracens in the ninth century, restored by the Normans in the 12th century, and has remained a ruin since the 1693 earthquake. The main section still standing is the 14th-century portal wall. From the church, a flight of steps leads down to the fourth-century cruciform Crypt of San Marziano and to the adjoining catacombs, which are among the most imposing known and far larger than the catacombs of Rome

Latomia dei Cappuccini

Beside the Capuchin monastery are the Latomia dei Cappuccini, one of the 12 ancient quarries that provided building stone for Syracuse, and the only one you can enter. The huge cavity was once underground, but large parts of its roof have collapsed from earthquakes and erosion, making an open-air pit.

Santa Lucia

The 12th-century triple-aisled basilica replaced an earlier church, which was built in the sixth century on the spot where St. Lucia was murdered. The portal and rose-window above it at the west end of the church are remnants of the old Gothic building. Baroque porticoes have been built on this end and on the south side

Temple of Apollo

Built about 570 BC and excavated 1938-43, the Temple of Apollo is Sicily's oldest Doric temple. In later years, it was in turn a Byzantine church, an Islamic mosque, a Norman church, and a Spanish barracks, reflecting Sicily's various ruling groups. The foundations

Roman Amphitheater and Altar of Hiero II

This third-century Roman amphitheater was partly hewn from the existing rock, with entrances at either end. Below the front row of seats is a walkway for the gladiators and the wild animals used in the competitions. The original arena was constructed of stone blocks on top of the part you see today, but it was completely disassembled by the Spanish,

Foro Italico and Fonte Arethusa

The promenade of the Foro Vittorio Emanuele II, more commonly called Foro Italico, is a beautiful place for a walk, and its seats under the trees may tempt you to sit and enjoy the shade and the sea view. The promenade extends northwards from the Fonte Arethusa (Spring of Arethusa) to the Molo Zanagora landing stage, and to the 15th-century Porta Marina,

Noto

Following the devastating 1693 earthquake, old Noto was abandoned, and with the help of a number of well-known master-builders, completely rebuilt 16 kilometers away. As a result of the unique town layout and the churches and palaces designed by these prestigious architects, today Noto is one of Sicily's most attractive Baroque towns