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Siracusa ::.
SIRACUSA In Greek and Roman times, this was the most powerful city in Sicily. Siracusa may be divided in several areas. The most ancient part of town is the island of Ortigia, linked to the mainland by the Ponte Nuovo. Here stands the Fonte Aretusa, related to the myth of the nymph mentioned by Ovid. On Piazza Duomo stands the Baroque Cathedral, which also incorporates partes of the Temple of Minerva. Inside there are Norman mosaics and many paintings and sculptures. On the same square, the Baroque Palazzo Beneventano del Bosco built in 1779 by Luciano Alì. Visit the Palazzo del Senato, the Swabian Maniace castle and the Church of Santa Lucia alla Badia, the patron saint.Interesting churches are S. Maria delle Colonne, S.Giovanni, S.Pietro. There are many enchanting palazzi like the medieval Palazzo Mergulese-Montalto and Palazzo Bellomo which hosts an Art gallery (Entombment of St. Lucy by Caravaggio, Annunciation by Antonello da Messina). Via della Maestranza is one of the oldest and interesting streets of Ortigia, lined with Baroque buildings: Palazzo Interland Pizzuti, Palazzo Impellizzeri, Palazzo Bonanno, Palazzo Romeo Bufardeci and the church of S.Francesco all’Immacolata. Other charming streets are Mastrarua, Via Mirabella and Corso Matteotti, full of shops. Also interesting: the Church of S.Spirito and the Belvedere S.Giacomo which offers a spectacular view. On the mainland part of town, there is the Parco Archeologico della Neapolis, you may visit the Ear of Dionysius (situated in the Latomia del Paradiso, a garden with orange and palm trees; once in the gallrries which still can be seen, the Syracusan architects extracted stone), the Greek theatre( built by the architect Damacopos in the 5th century BC), the Roman amphitheatre, the Altar of Hieron II and the Tomb of Archimedes. The Regional Archaeological Museum Paolo Orsi houses about 18000 objects from the pre/proto historic and Siculan cultures, from Greek colonies, from the subcolonies formed by the Syracusans and from excavations of the inland Hellenistic towns. In the areas of Tyche and Akradina: visit the Papyrus Museum, the Catacombs and the Basilica of S.Giovanni Evangelista, the Crypt of S.Marciano and S.Lucia extra moenia. Also worth a visit: a walk to the Eurialo Castle, on the north side ot town. A favourite excursion is a boat trip starting at the Fonte Ciane, at about 8 km out of town; it will get you to the spot, where, according to Ovid, the Rape of Proserpina took place. |
Siracusa
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