With a 2009 population of 124,000, the city of Syracuse is located on the southeast coast of Sicily, and is known for being rich in Greek history. Syracuse was settled by Greeks in the 8th century BC, and evolved to become what Roman philosopher Cicero called "the greatest Greek City and most beautiful of them all".
The original city was located on the fortified Ortygia Island, and although the city is still centered there, Syracuse has spread extensively inland. Exploring Ortygia reveals three thousand years of history, starting with the harbor front that leads to a maze of winding ancient streets. The central Piazza del Duomo is impressive with its imposing buildings, and the Cathedral there was built in the 7th century over top of the 5th century BC Temple of Athens. Also central to the old city, and housed in the 13th century Bellomo Palace, is the Regional Art Museum.
The year 1693 saw a devastating earthquake, and Syracuse was rebuilt in what is termed Sicilian Baroque, now regarded as the classic architecture of Italy. The northern part of the city saw heavy damage by Allied bombing in World War II, and the area was unfortunately hastily rebuilt.
Syracuse offers much heritage and many monuments in Greek, Roman and Baroque styles. Just outside of the city are several of the more notable monuments, such as the Temple of Zeus, built in the 6th century BC, as well as the Ancient Greek Castle of Euryalos, one of the most complete defensive complexes in all of Western Europe.
Other monuments of note include the Temple of Apollo, The Fountain of Arethusa, which is on Ortygia Island, as well s the Greek Theatre, which was modified later by the Romans for their Circus games and other uses. Also check out the Roman Amphitheatre, which was partially carved out of rock. Syracuse also features quite a few historical churches of note that represent many styles and periods.
Denise has been writing and publishing in the travel and design field since 2001. Check out her latest website which is all about how to identify and find the best discount window treatments , as well as what to look for in sheer window treatments.
