Teatro Greco

Syracuse,Sicily,Italy,Europe

The highlight of the Neapolis archaeological area is the Teatro Greco, a masterpiece of
classical architecture that could accommodate up to 16,000 people. Hewn out of the rocky
hillside, the amphitheatre was constructed in the 5th century BC, rebuilt in the 3rd century
and further modified during the Roman period. Impressively, it staged the works of
Sophocles, Euripides and the last tragedies of Aeschylus, including The Persians, Prometheus
Bound and Prometheus Unbound, which were first performed here in his presence.

Duomo

Built on the skeleton of a 5th-century BC Greek temple to Athena (note the Doric columns
still visible inside and out), Syracuse's 7th-century cathedral became a church when the
island was evangelised by St Paul. Its most striking feature is the columned baroque facade
(1728–53) added by Andrea Palma after the 1693 earthquake. A statue of the Virgin Mary
crowns the rooftop, in the same spot where a golden statue of Athena once served as a
beacon to homecoming Greek sailors.

The original temple was renowned throughout the Mediterranean, in no small part thanks to
Cicero, who visited Ortygia in the 1st century BC. Note the interesting baptismal font to the
right as you enter; it consists of an ancient Greek krater (large vase) adorned by seven 13th-
century bronze lions.

Syracuse

If you are looking to roll back the years to when the ancient Greeks dominated the known
world, we suggest you travel to Syracuse and start your journey in the golden age of Magna
Graecia. More than 2,700 years of art and history are concentrated in this extraordinary
town set in the fine Sicilian landscape. It is situated on the south-east coast of Sicily,
between cape S.Panagia and the Maddalena peninsula and the city can be divided into two
parts characterized by the typology and history of the buildings: the small island of Ortigia,
the old part of town, and the modern city. Siracusa is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage
Site as “a unique testimony to the development of Mediterranean civilization over three
millennia”.

Neapolis Archaeological Park

Historical Facts

Syracuse was founded by the Corinthians in 734 BC and became one of the richest and most
powerful cities on the island and of the entire Greek civilization. According to Cicero it was
“the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all”.
Syracuse was the Greek capital of Sicily (often in conflict with Agrigento and Selinunte, the
two sites that still contain the largest archaeological remains in Europe) contending many
firsts with Athens, as testified by its theatre and ancient vestiges that lie in a splendid natural
scenery enhanced by the light and beauty of its coast. It was an era of expansion and
prosperity, founding new colonies and establishing fertile agricultural settlements.
Archimedes, one of the most creative personalities in history, was born here, while the
philosopher Plato visited Syracuse several times. Countless conflicts between Greeks and
Carthaginians as well as internal struggles between colonists and the lower classes
weakened its supremacy, but when the Romans conquered the city it regained status as the
most influent Sicilian towns and enjoyed a small but important period of prosperity, mainly
due to trade through its port. From the Arab conquest on it slowly lost its dominant role..

The south-eastern area of the island is also the Baroque capital of Sicily, another grand
season in Sicilian art. Ragusa, Noto, Modica, and Scicli, and the same Siracusa represent in
the colour of the stone and architectural features, a southern twist on this impressive scenic
style. Like Ragusa, it was hit by the 1693 earthquake. This event, in addition to the previous
earthquake of 1542 and the plague in 1729, shaped this area considerably and left clear
signs that we can still see today.

The Island of Ortigia

When the Greek settlers landed here in the VIII century BC, they established their colony on
the small, strategically significant island of Ortigia and this became the nucleus of Syracuse.
Over the centuries its buildings were influenced by the fashion of the time, not only by the
ancient Greeks but also by the Romans, the Arabs and the Normans. Ortigia has undergone
thoughtful renovation of its townscape creating a characteristic and vibrant island well loved
by tourists visiting the sights as well as the shops selling clothing and various wares and the
well-known food market, a colorful arrangement of stalls where you can taste many of the
delicious things that Sicily has to offer, from fish and cheeses to fruit and vegetables.

Ortigia's historic street market

Connected to the rest of the city by three bridges, a stroll along the streets of Ortigia offers
up the wonders of Baroque and Medieval buildings, some very impressive but others still in
a state of abandonment and where nature has sought to reclaim its rights.

A walk from the west seafront to the south of the island brings you to one of the best sights
in Syracuse: the Fountain of Arethusa. It is a natural-fresh-water spring dating back to the
first Greek settlement. According to mythology, the nymph Arethusa turned into a spring
after she refused the advances from the god Alpheus. The myth is represented in the
sculpture alongside the fountain. In the basin, you can see fish, ducks and papyrus plants
that in the whole of Europe, grow only here and in Fiume Freddo near Catania. The fame of
the Fountain of Arethusa has been perpetuated through the works of various artists and
poets. Another fountain that narrates the myth of Arethusa is the Fountain of Diana (Giulio
Moschetti, 1906) located in the elegant square of Piazza Archimede. The mansions around
the square bring together all the architectural styles on the island.
The Fountain of Diana

Other important sights to see in Ortigia are the Maniace Castel and the Regional Gallery. The
first was built by Frederick II of Swabia in 1239 and is famous for its entry arch covered in
precious polychrome marbles; the second hosts an art gallery with paintings and sculptures
from different periods.

Temple of Apollo

From the bridge Ponte Umbertino, you can reach the ruins of the Doric Temple of Apollo. It
is the oldest Doric temple in Sicily, dating back to VI century BC. It had been subjected to
various transformations over time before excavations in the mid-nineteenth-c. brought to
light the remains that can be seen today. We recommend a visit to the ruins after dark,
when the lighting creates a suggestive sight.

The Cathedral of Syracuse

Piazza del Duomo

The Cathedral of Syracuse is located on Ortigia in the beautiful square of Piazza del Duomo
which is also the seat of the town hall. It is a complex adaptation from the 5th Century BC
Temple of Minerva that started under the Byzantines and was completed in the 18th
Century. The Baroque style of the “Duomo” can be admired in its façade, while the
Byzantine hand can be found in the arches and the nave. The nineteen Doric columns of the
original Greek temple were well-preserved in the early works of adaption, and even with its
conversion into a mosque during the Arab period. The Normans made the roof of the nave
and the mosaics in the apses.

In the same square, there is also the church of Santa Lucia Alla Badia containing the
masterpiece Burial of St. Lucia by the Baroque painter Caravaggio. St. Lucia is the city’s
patron saint and twice a year on the first Sunday of May and on December 13, her feast day,
she is celebrated by parading her silver statue through the streets of the city. The statue by
the sculptor Pietro Rizzo incorporates three fragments of the saints ribs within its chest.

The church of Santa Lucia Alla Badia

Piazza del Duomo was also where the young aristocrats of the Grand Tour sojourned during
their stay in Syracuse. They frequented the charming Palazzo Beneventano, an enchanting
place where from the balcony they overlooked the square below. This was an opportunity
reserved for the few but nowadays you can visit the palace by contacting the owners and
enjoy one of the emblems of the Sicilian Late Baroque. It is a historic building bought by local
nobility in 1779 who then refurbished in the Baroque and Rococo styles this palace dating
from the Middle Ages that formerly housed administrative and legal authorities. Traces of
this period can be found in the courtyard and in its decorative, black and white cobblestone
flooring. The palace also hosts an elegant chapel and huge crystal chandeliers imported from
Murano, Venice. During his visit to Syracuse, King Ferdinand I of the Kingdom of the Two
Sicilies stayed in the palace; a plaque over the balcony commemorates this event.

The Catacombs of St. John

For those who want to breathe an atmosphere of mystery and holiness can tour in the
Catacombs of St. John. The catacombs are parts of a complex including the Basilica of San
Giovanni Evangelista and the Crypt of San Marciano and consist in an underground tour of
tunnels, graves and chapels that reveal the secrets of the ancients.

The large underground area contains more than 7000 graves from the early persecuted
Christians. The Romans did not allow them to be buried within the city boundaries, so the
Christians recycled the burial chambers used by the Greeks. Over the crypt was built the
Church of Saint John at the Catacombs in the VI century AD. The Normans made it their
cathedral in the XII century; the 1692 earthquake and the ensuing negligence after this
event, left the Church in the state of abandonment.

From the entrance located in the ruins of the Church you can reach the Crypt of Saint
Marciano, who was the first Bishop of Syracuse; the Byzantine crypt has a Greek cross plan
with three apses, Ionic columns and capitals, as well as frescoes such as those of the Bishop
and Saint Lucia and an opus sectile floor. The structure of the Catacombs is organized in
chambers and tunnels: the main chamber of the Catacombs is the Decumanus Maximus and
diverges into ten secondary tunnels, named Cardines, which lead to round chambers carved
out of ancient water cisterns and used by the faithful for praying. In one of the Cardines lies
a singular grave with three holes, proof of the Refrigerium, an ancient Christian ceremony, a
funeral banquet for the deceased to favour him to eternal life. The Adelphia Sarcophagus,
one of the most important in ancient Christianity and today exhibited in the nearby
Archaeological Museum Paolo Orsi, was found here. The most important element of the
sarcophagus is the fine decoration in which the Jesus Christ Nativity scene is depicted and
considered the most ancient of its type in the world.

The Greek Theatre of Syracuse

Neapolis Archaeological Park

The essential evidence of the greatness of Magna Graecia here is in the Neapolis
Archaeological Park and its main attraction, the Greek Theatre. The Neapolis was the new
part of ancient Syracuse built as the town grew and today preserves several monuments, not
only from the Greek period but also from the Roman Age. In addition to the other local
sights, it is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of "Syracuse and the Rock Necropolis of
Pantalica".
The ancient Roman Amphitheatre of Syracuse

The Park is divided into three parts; the first area where you can start the visit is the Roman
Amphitheatre, the ruins of the typical Roman arena where gladiatorial contests took place.
Unfortunately, in the XVI century during the Spanish reign the upper section made of stone
was dismantled to use in Ortigia, so today you will see parts of the tribunes and the elliptical
arena. In the centre of the amphitheatre, there is a rectangular room probably used to equip
the gladiators during the contests. In the summer, the theatre hosts various theatrical
production and musicals.

Contrary to the Roman Amphitheatre, the Greek Theatre stands in very good condition and
appears almost as when it was built in the V century BC. It is one of the largest theatres in
the world (138 meters/455 feet) and can hold up to 15,000 spectators; the Greeks used it for
various forms of entertainment: plays, tragedies and circus performances. The position of
the Theatre is magnificent: sitting in the tribunes you can admire the landscape over
Syracuse and the Mediterranean Sea. The structure is almost entirely carved in stone and
consists of three parts: the Koilon (cavea) of semicircular shape divided in nine sectors, the
Orchestra located at the foot of the cavea and the vast area of the Scene with two pillars on
the sides. Today the Greek tragedies are revived in the annual Festival held from May to
June, a wonderful opportunity for the enthusiasts of this art.

The Ear of Dionysius

The last main area of the Neapolis is called the Latomia del Paradiso, numerous ancient
limestone quarries filled with evergreen orange and lemon trees. The path will lead you to
what Caravaggio called “the Ear of Dionysius” because of its conformation similar to a
human ear and for its particular acoustic effects: in fact, if you stand at the opening of this
stone cave you can hear those who whisper at the other end. Legend has it that Dionysius
incarcerated his prisoners here and spied on them through the acoustics.

In the Neapolis area, there are other treasures to discover, like the presumed tomb of
Archimedes. If you want to discover them all, and it can be done in about two hours, we
highly recommend a visit, open every day from 8.30am to 6.45pm.

Founded by Greeks around 734 B.C., the southeastern Sicilian city that Cicero called “the
greatest and most beautiful of all Grecian cities” achieved a size and status in the ancient
world that made it a rival of major powers like Athens and Carthage. Takeovers and
makeovers by Romans, Byzantines, North Africans, Normans and others left their marks as
well, influencing everything from religious art to the region’s distinctive savory-sweet-sour
cooking style. Much of the ancient city has crumbled since Cicero’s day, though the ruins can
still be explored in Syracuse’s celebrated archaeological park and museum. But the main
attraction today is the historical center of Syracuse: Ortigia island, a maze of narrow streets,
ornate Baroque churches and centuries-old palazzi. And if you’ve never seen the stunning
sunset over the Mediterranean from Ortigia’s western promenade, add that to your To Do
list.
36 Hours in Syracuse, Sicily

2 PLACES ARE OUT OF VIEW SHOW ALL

Friday

1) 5 p.m. Panoramic passeggiata

A passeggiata, or evening walk, around the perimeter of Ortigia reveals many notable
structures and stories. Start from the Parco Letterario Elio Vittorini, on the eastern side, and
head clockwise. As waves crash against the rocks below the sea wall, you’ll pass crenelated
lookout points and the chiseled facade of the 17th-century Chiesa dello Spirito Santo, before
finding yourself in the palm-planted gardens of the 13th-century Castello Maniace.
Continuing up the western side leads you to the spot where the goddess Artemis is said to
have transformed a nymph into a natural spring — the Arethusa Fountain — and then to
another haven of liquids: an outdoor seaside bar called Fratelli Burgio al Porto. A bright
orange Aperol spritz costs 7 euros, or about $7.75. The matching sunset is free.

2) 8 p.m. Don’t fight the fruit

“Waiter! There are raisins in my vegetable medley!” Please don’t say this when your
caponata arrives. The raisins are supposed to be there, along with the pine nuts, tangy
vinegar-sugar reduction, and slow-stewed eggplant, red peppers, tomatoes and other local
vegetables. After all, you’ve ordered a classic Sicilian dish with one of the finest sweet-savory
mash-ups north of Morocco, and the rustic-chic Oinos restaurant crafts it with the subtle
spices and flavors it deserves. The comfort-food menu also includes a sculptural tower of
eggplant parmigiana, a succulent, fat-lined slab of pork in sage butter, and a beef filet
covered with a purple sauce of local Nero d’Avola wine. A three-course dinner for two costs
around 80 euros.

3) 10 p.m. The temple bar

The bar called Boats, name notwithstanding, does not have sea views. It has something far
rarer: a view over the ruins of the roughly 2,500-year-old Temple of Apollo. Lit by candles
and decorated with impeccable retro-vintage finds, the cavernous, nautical-themed
establishment also has multiple turntables, an impressive funk-soul vinyl collection and an
inspired cocktail card with concoctions like The Flaming Zone (Cynar artichoke liqueur,
Campari, whiskey, mezcal and bitters; 9 euros).

Across the stately Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral of Syracuse, with its ornately chiseled
facade and kaleidoscopic marble floor, is an architectural marvel.

Across the stately Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral of Syracuse, with its ornately chiseled
facade and kaleidoscopic marble floor, is an architectural marvel.Credit...Susan Wright for
The New York Times
Saturday

4) 10 a.m. Madonna masterworks

The number of Madonnas per square yard in the Galleria Regionale di Palazzo Bellomo —
dedicated mostly to medieval, Renaissance and Baroque art — must surely approach record
status. There she is, alongside her child, towering over a church carried by angels, in a
surreal 1507 century painting by Alessandro Padovano and Giovanni Maria Trevisiano. There
she is in Gothic mode, resplendent in deep reds, blues and golds, on a time-fissured wooden
board by the Master of the Polyptych of Santa Maria. But certainly her most stunning
rendition comes from the hand of Antonello da Messina. His 15th-century painting
“Annunciation,” depicting Mary visited by an angel, is a masterwork of powerful color,
exquisite detail and beatific light. Admission, 8 euros.

5) Noon. A few loaves and many fishes

Sicily’s horn of plenty spills out in a tide of colors, shapes and smells at Ortigia’s outdoor
market. Walking down the lively, crowded corridor of storefronts, stalls and sidewalk tables,
you get a vocabulary lesson and gastronomic tour all in one: purple-green carciofi
(artichokes), orange zucche (pumpkins), brown mandorle (almonds), black barrette di
cioccolato (chocolate bars) from Modica. But mostly you find freshly hooked and netted fish,
including seppie (cuttlefish) and shiny green-black sgombro (mackerel). Breads, nuts, spices
and cheeses round out the mix. Around the corner, a trinket market awaits for anyone intent
on taking home a Vespa-shaped magnet or “Godfather” T-shirt.

A Tour of Small-Town Sicily

May 16, 2018

6) 1:30 p.m. Shells and scales

Practice your new vocabulary next door at Divino Mare, a simple and colorful seafood joint
where many of those words are scrawled and re-scrawled every day on the chalkboard
menu. Using the daily catches from their neighbors, the friendly staff serves up fresh
carpaccios, ceviches, seafood pastas, fried critters, grilled fish and whole baked undersea
creatures. And if orecchiette pasta with tender octopus chunks isn’t sufficiently filling, try the
garganelli pasta with shrimp in a rich butter-truffle sauce. A two-course meal for two costs
about 50 euros.

7) 3 p.m. The sinner and the saint

Caravaggio was on the run. Having escaped from prison in Malta, the bad-boy artist (and
accused murderer) arrived in Syracuse in 1608 and scored a commission to paint “The Burial
of St. Lucia,” which today hangs in the Chiesa di Santa Lucia alla Badia (free admission).
Dominated by somber blacks and browns, the canvas depicts the corpse of Syracuse’s patron
saint (the only horizontal element) mourned by a priest in a blood-red scarf (the only splash
of bright color) and a crowd of onlookers. But the most mesmerizing component is the
diffuse, shadowy emptiness surrounding them. Across the stately Piazza del Duomo stands
the cathedral (admission 2 euros), whose architecture and design elements form a survey of
Syracuse’s history, from the ornately chiseled facade (Baroque) to the kaleidoscopic marble
floor (Renaissance) to the soaring stone pillars integrated into the walls (remnants of a 480
B.C. temple to Athena).

8) 5 p.m. Leather, lather and lace

Il Piacere della Pelle is a leather-goods shop where all of the simple monochrome bags,
backpacks, sandals and more are crafted on site. The boutique is one of many small
treasures hidden on Ortigia’s narrow streets, and an afternoon shopping stroll is also a
journey of discovery that turns up hidden squares, unexpected passages and tons of Old
World architecture. A haven of luxurious and colorful packaging, Ortigia Sicilia sells fragrant
beauty products made with the island’s fruits and flora, such as resin-spice shaving cream
and pomegranate soap. You can slip them into a handbag from Lumiere Design, where
traditional Sicilian woven baskets are adorned with lace, fur, sequins, gold chains and other
upscale accouterments.

Room Cucina, a new hot spot that channels the spirit of midcentury modernism, offers
dishes like spaghetti with tiny clams, candied lemon and butter sauce.

Room Cucina, a new hot spot that channels the spirit of midcentury modernism, offers
dishes like spaghetti with tiny clams, candied lemon and butter sauce.Credit...Susan Wright
for The New York Times

9) 8 p.m. Room and board

Arne Jacobsen or the Eameses would have felt at home inside Room Cucina, a lofty and
minimalist new hot spot that channels the spirit of midcentury modernism. They would likely
enjoy the cooking, too, which reveals an eye for presentation and a nose for flavorful
embellishments. You might start with polpette of tiny neonato fish and mushy asparagus —
literally rolled up into a crispy-fried ball of savory flavors — before moving on to spaghetti in
butter sauce that’s loaded with tiny tender clams and slivers of candied lemon. Among
mains, the veal isn’t one of those thin, breaded, fried-up and dried-out disasters with the
flavor of a carpet sample, but rather a thick, juicy cut of meat surrounded by droplets of a
sweet-sour balsamic reduction. Expect to pay around 90 euros for a three-course dinner for
two.

10) 10:30 p.m. Hidden bars

You practically need a Campari detector to find Ortigia’s other top bars, which are hidden
away. Outfitted with antique furniture and an upright piano, Cortile Verga surrounds a
courtyard filled with white marble tables, offering both indoor and outdoor space to enjoy a
mild I.P.A. by Sicily’s Vittoria brewery (7 euros) or the expert Italian-Mexican mix of a
Malinche cocktail (Campari, vermouth, mezcal, orange juice, agave; 9 euros). Then slip into
the candlelit, palm-planted courtyard of Barcollo, a chic and sultry lounge offering fruity
drinks like the Ortigia Mule (vodka, prickly pear liqueur, ginger ale and lime; 10 euros).
Sunday

11) 10 a.m. Ancient sites (and sounds)

In the prolific years before he was killed by a tortoise that had been dropped by an eagle,
the celebrated Athenian playwright Aeschylus visited the ancient Greek theater of Syracuse
to stage “Women of Etna.” The play, performed there in 475 B.C., has been mostly lost to
time, but much of the semicircular stone theater remains impressively intact and hosts
performances to this day. Other marquee attractions in the Parco Archeologico della
Neapolis are the eroded cliffs and otherworldly geological forms where the Greeks, Romans
and others quarried stone. Particularly stunning is the Ear of Dionysus, a soaring jagged
cavern on a cathedral scale that amplifies even the tiniest noises into eerie echoes.
Admission 10 euros.

Your historical odyssey culminates in the Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi. All of
the favorite Greco-Roman deities, heroes and creatures are there, in ceramic or sculptural
form. Hercules drives chariots and fights lions on black-glazed pottery. A grinning satyr sails
on a bloated wineskin. The early Christian relics are no less impressive, notably the
Sarcophagus of Adelphia, which was discovered in the nearby catacombs of St. Giovanni.
Dating to the 4th century, the funerary masterwork is chiseled with 13 biblical scenes —
including the temptation of Adam and Eve, and the wedding at Cana — in three-dimensional
reliefs. Admission 8 euros.

Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale

Located on the northern coast of Sicily, Arab-Norman Palermo includes a series of nine civil
and religious structures dating from the era of the Norman kingdom of Sicily (1130-1194):
two palaces, three churches, a cathedral, a bridge, as well as the cathedrals of Cefalú and
Monreale. Collectively, they are an example of a social-cultural syncretism between
Western, Islamic and Byzantine cultures on the island which gave rise to new concepts of
space, structure and decoration. They also bear testimony to the fruitful coexistence of
people of different origins and religions (Muslim, Byzantine, Latin, Jewish, Lombard and
French).

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and MonrealeArab-Norman

Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and MonrealeArab-Norman Palermo and the
Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and MonrealeArab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral
Churches of Cefalú and MonrealeArab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of
Cefalú and MonrealeArab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and
MonrealeArab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and MonrealeArab-
Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and MonrealeArab-Norman Palermo
and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and MonrealeArab-Norman Palermo and the
Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale

Outstanding Universal Value

Located on the northern coast of the Italian island of Sicily, Arab-Norman Palermo and the
Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale is a series of nine religious and civic structures
dating from the era of the Norman kingdom of Sicily (1130-1194). Two palaces, three
churches, a cathedral, and a bridge are in Palermo, the capital of the kingdom, and two
cathedrals are in the municipalities of Monreale and Cefalù. Collectively, they are an
outstanding example of a socio-cultural syncretism between Western, Islamic, and Byzantine
cultures. This interchange gave rise to an architectural and artistic expression based on novel
concepts of space, structure, and decoration that spread widely throughout the
Mediterranean region.

The monuments that comprise this 6.235-ha serial property include the Royal Palace and
Palatine Chapel; Zisa Palace; Palermo Cathedral; Monreale Cathedral; Cefalù Cathedral;
Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti; Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio; Church of San
Cataldo; and Admiral’s Bridge. Each illustrates important aspects of the multicultural
Western-Islamic-Byzantine syncretism that characterized the Norman kingdom of Sicily
during the 12th century. The innovative re-elaboration of architectural forms, structures,
and materials and their artistic, decorative, and iconographic treatments – most
conspicuously the rich and extensive tesserae mosaics, pavements in opus sectile,
marquetry, sculptural elements, paintings, and fittings – celebrate the fruitful coexistence of
people of different origins.

Criterion (ii): Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale
bears witness to a particular political and cultural condition characterized by the fruitful
coexistence of people of different origins (Muslim, Byzantine, Latin, Jewish, Lombard, and
French). This interchange generated a conscious and unique combination of elements
derived from the architectural and artistic techniques of Byzantine, Islamic, and Western
traditions. This new style contributed to the developments in the architecture of the
Tyrrhenian side of southern Italy and spread widely throughout the medieval Mediterranean
region.

Criterion (iv): Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale is
an outstanding example of stylistic synthesis that created new spatial, constructive, and
decorative concepts through the innovative and coherent re-elaboration of elements from
different cultures.
În Palermo, în schimb, ai mult de vizitat și ar fi bine să mergi cel puțin pentru 4 nopți dacă
vrei să te bucuri de tot ce îți poate oferi orașul acesta. Căci pe lângă muzee, castele,
catedrale, trebuie să te lași cuprins, pur și simplu de viața din Palermo, de străzi, de zarvă.

patrimoniul UNESCO – cu precădere Catedrala, Palatul Roial (ce găzduiește și Capela Palatină
– cel mai spectaculos obiectiv turistic), bisericile Santa Maria dell’Amiraglio și San Cataldo
(situate ambele în aceeași piață); aici o să vă bucurați cu adevărat ochii de influențele arabe
și normandice și o să vedeți metri pătrați de mozaic…

Teatro Massimo – opera din Palermo, a treia ca mărime din Europa (după cea din Paris și cea
din Viena), cu sala făcută în întregime din lemn de castan; este, de altfel, singurul obiectiv
turistic în care biletul include și un ghid uman și e o experiență frumoasă de jumătate de oră;
puteți opta, însă, pentru mai multe tipuri de bilet – puteți vizita și culisele sau puteți chiar să
vă bucurați de un mini recital.

Grădina Botanică – nu e ceva ce aș vizita în mod normal, dar cum flora Siciliei este atât de
diferită de cea a României, am simțit că voi găsi aici câteva lucruri cu adevărat deosebite. Și
am găsit. :) Am văzut pentru prima oară un bananier, papaya, argan și am pus mâna pe un
fruct dintr-un arbore de cafea și pe mătase căzută din arborele de mătase. Și-apoi, desigur,
sunt ficușii bătrâni care se întind pe zeci de metri cubi fiecare… Poate nu o să găsiți grădina
botanică într-un clasic ghid turistic, dar e o experiență pe care eu v-o recomand din tot
sufletul.

Ce-am mai făcut? Ne-am plimbat prin celebrele lor piețe – Vucchiria și Ballaro – și ne-am
bucurat de zarvă și de mâncarea proaspătă și bună. Am mai vizitat o biserică, Santa Caterina,
situată în aceeași piață cu Santa Maria dell’Amiraglio și San Cataldo. Nu are mozaic, dar are
pereții plini de sculpturi și, vă zic, imaginea e impresionantă.

Nu în ultimul rând, la recomandările celor din jur, am mers și până la plaja Mondello. Se
ajunge cu un autobuz obișnuit (costă 1.4 Euro biletul cu o valabilitate de 90 de minute) pe
care îl puteți lua din centrul orașului. Bilete se pot achiziționa fie de la tabacherii, fie direct
de la șofer. Plaja, însă, nu ne-a impresionat. Multe gunoaie în nisip, iar apa nu era limpede
deloc (ba chiar avea o culoare foarte dubioasă la mal și am decis să nu intru…). Dacă vreți
plajă, luați trenul până-n Cefalu. Biletul costă în jur de 10 Euro dus – întors, faceți doar cu 10
minute mai mult și experiența nici nu se compară.

Ce-ar mai fi de zis

Am povestit deja foarte mult și mă bucur sincer că ați avut răbdare să parcurgeți tot
articolul. Vreau doar să vă încurajez să vizitați Palermo. Și să vă spun că seara nu-i deloc
periculos pe străzi. :) Musai să vă plimbați pe via Maqueda. Noi am avut noroc să prindem pe
ea și două nopți de festivalul berii artizanale, dar strada a rămas la fel de vie și după ce s-a
încheiat acesta, cu mulți artiști stradali – muzică, jonglerie – și spectacole care mai de care.
Altfel, sunt aici pentru orice fel de curiozități ați mai avea. Și, de asemenea, dacă ați vizitat și
voi Palermo, completările sunt și ele binevenite! :)

Saluti!

JURNAL DE CĂLĂTORIE – SICILIA(CATANIA, TAORMINA)

December 3, 2021

Trebuie să recunosc că m-am îndrăgostit de Italia de când am pus prima dată piciorul în
această țară minunată. Oamenii, locurile, mâncarea, muzica… toate mă fac să îmi doresc să
mă reîntorc de fiecare dată.

Sicilia era una din destinațiile în care îmi doream să ajung. Nu știu dacă să fie canolli
responsabili pentru acest lucru sau toate poveștile frumoase pe care le-am auzit despre
această frumoasă regiune. Cert este însă că nu putut refuza atunci când mi s-a propus
această destinație, chiar dacă a fost destul de greu să strecor acest city break în agenda mea.
Și bine am făcut, a meritat în totalitate!

Sicilia

Sursa foto:Wikipedia

Sicilia este o regiune autonoma a Italiei, ce își are capitala la Palermo. Este, totodată, cea mai
mare insula din Marea Mediterană, un tărâm ce a inspirat numeroși pictori, scriitori sau
poeți care i-au onorat frumusețea prin scrierile sau picturile lor.

Goethe, scriitorul german ce a vizitat Sicilia în anul 1787 spunea: „să vezi Italia fără să vezi
Sicilia este ca și cum nu ai fi văzut Italia deloc, pentru că Sicilia este cheia întregii țări”.

Zilele mele petrecute în Sicilia s-au împărțit în două orașe, Catania și Taormina. Haideți să
vedem ce este de făcut în fiecare din cele două.

Ce obiective turistice nu trebuie să ratezi în Catania:

1.Cattedrale di Sant’Agata

Cel mai important monument religios din acest oraș, catedrala construita în stil baroc poartă
numele Sfintei Agata, cea care patronează orașul. Aceasta a devenit martiră în urma
persecuțiilor deciene ce au avut loc între anii 250-253.
Construcția catedralei a început în anul 1078, însă de-a lungul timpului a suferit multe lucrări
de renovare, fiind distusă parțial din pricina fenomenelor naturale, precum cutremurele din
1169 și 1693.

În interiorul acestei clădiri veți găsi pe lângă capela Sf. Agata și mormântul lui Vicenzo Bellini,
faimosul compozitor de operă ce s-a născut în Catania. Printre cele mai cunoscute opere ale
sale se numără Somnambula, Norma, Beatrice di Tenda, Puritanii.

2.Fontana dell’Elefante

Fontana dell'Elefante din Catania - Sicilia

Sursă foto: Unsplash

Tot în Piazza del Duomo, vis-a-vis de Catedrala Sf. Agata găsim Fântâna Elefantului, un
monument construit de arhitectul Giovanni Battista Vaccarini.

Baza este formată dintr-un bloc de marmură, unde se regăsesc două sculpturi ce fac referire
la cele două râuri din Catania, Simeto și Amenano. Deasupra se ridică triumfător un elefant
din bazalt negru, despre care se spune că ar fi fost sculptat dintr-un singur bloc de piatră de
lavă.

Statuia elefantului a devenit simbol al Cataniei începând cu anul 1239.

3.Fontana dell’Amenano

Fontana dell'Amenano din Catania, Sicilia

Sursă foto: Unsplash

Un alt obiectiv turistic pe care nu îl puteți rata dacă ajungeți în Piazza del Duomo este
această fântână. După cum spuneam mai sus, Amenano este un râu ce străbate orașul
Catania.

Construit din marmură de Carrara de către maestrul Tito Angelini, acest monument
înfățisează zeul râului Amenano in ipostaza unui tânăr care toarnă apă din ceea ce ar putea fi
considerat un corn al abundenței.

4.Castello Ursino
Sursă foto: flickr

Construită din piatră de lavă în 1239, această clădire robustă avea inițial rol de apărare al
orașului și portului. Având o formă dreptunghiulară și patru turnuri cilindrice, castelul este
lipsit de elemente decorative.

Fiind afectat de cutremure, acesta a fost restaurat în 1837, devenind, pentru o scurtă
perioadă de timp, închisoare. În 1934 castelul a fost restaurat din nou.

În prezent castelul adăpostește Museo Civico, ce cuprinde o serie de relicve, portelanuri,

sculpturi elenistice și romane, precum și picturi foarte valoroase pentru istoria orașului.

5.Teatro Romano

Teatro Romano - Sicilia

Sursă foto: flickr

Construit cel mai probabil în secolul al II-lea sub împărații Hadrian și Antoninus Pius,
Amfiteatrul Roman era la momentul respectiv unul dintre cele mai mari din lume, fiind
depășit doar de Colosseum și de Arena din Roma.

Afectat și acesta de cutremurul din 1693, a fost restaurat între 1904-1907, conservându-se
foarte bine până în prezent.

6.Porta Garibaldi

Creata în 1768, această poartă impresionantă a fost dedicată lui Ferdinand al IV-lea și a soției
sale Maria Carolina. Este construită din straturi de calcar alb și lavă neagră, creând un
contrast fantastic.

Arcul este denumit dupa Giuseppe Garibaldi, cel care a unificat Italia în 1800 și se află pe
strada cu același nume. În partea de sus a porții observăm un vultur, considerat simbol al
Siciliei.
.

Ce obiective turistice nu trebuie să ratezi în Taormina:

Continuăm cu un alt oraș de poveste, cel pe care trebuie neapărat să îl pui pe listă dacă
ajungi în Sicilia.

Aflat la 55 km de Catania, în Taormina poți ajunge cu trenul, bus-ul sau cu mașina. Noi de
data aceasta am ales să nu mai închiriem mașină, ci ne-am deplasat cu trenul. Călătoria a
durat aproximativ o oră iar biletul a costat undeva la 5 euro. Din fața gării am mers cu un
autobuz care ne-a lăsat sus, în centrul istoric. Iar de acolo… bucurie pentru ochi cât cuprinde.

După ce te oprești la fiecare magazin cu suveniruri și la fiecare pasticeria pentru a degusta

delicatesele siciliene(despre care o să vă povestesc într-un articol viitor), sunt câteva
obiective pe care nu ar trebui să le ratezi.

1.Teatro Antico di Taormina

Costruit de greci undeva în jurul secolulul al II-lea î.H., Teatro Antico a fost ulterior
reconstruit de romani, căpătând toate caracteristicile unui teatru roman. Acesta avea un
diametru de 107 m și putea adăposti undeva la 10.000 de spectatori.

Dacă doriți să îl vizitați, sfatul meu este să vă achiziționați biletele online, pentru a evita
coada enormă care se formează. Prețul unui bilet este de 13,5 euro și se poate achiziționa de
aici.

Priveliștea de aici este fantastică, putând astfel avea o vedere panoramică asupra orașului și
a vulcanului Etna.

În momentul de față, teatrul adăpostește festivalul anual Taormina Arte.

2.Piazza IX Aprile și San Giuseppe

Dacă ai ajuns aici înseamnă că te-ai bucurat deja de cel mai important obiectiv turistic, și
anume orașul în sine. Este o plăcere să te plimbi pe fiecare străduță cu ale sale clădiri
romantice și terase cu priveliști fantastice.

Piazza IX Aprilie se deschide cu o terasă uimitoare de unde poți avea, din nou, o priveliște ce
îți taie răsuflarea către Etna și golf.

Vis-a-vis de acest panoramic view point se găsește Chiessa San Giuseppe, construită în
secolul XVII în stil baroc.

3.Isola Bella
Cunoscută și sub numele de Perlă a Marii Ionice, această mică insulă stâncoasă este situată
într-un golf. Până în anul 1990 când a fost cumpărată de Regiunea Sicilia și transformată în
rezervație naturală, aceasta a fost deținută de Florence Trevelyan, fiica unui baron englez,
pasionată de grădinărit.

La această insulă puteți ajunge foarte usor din Taormina cu funicularul. Coborârea durează
aproximativ 5 minute și vă lasă la 200m de scările ce duc spre Isola Bella.

P.S. Căutând pe google Isola Bella, primele rezultate vor fi pentru o insulă cu același nume,
care este însă situată în nordul Italiei, făcând parte din insulele Borromee din Lago Maggiore.
Aveți grijă să nu faceți confuzii 🙂

Acolo veți găsi o plajă largă cu pietricele unde există și șezlonguri, așa că vă puteți bucura de
razele soarelui. Pe timpul verii, se poate închiria echipament și se poate face snorkeling. De
plajă este conectată în mod natural Isola Bella, pe care o puteți vizita, descoperind aici
câteva specii de plante exotice și șopârle interesante.

Pe plajă există și două restaurante. Noi ne-am așezat la Pizzichella, întrucât priveliștea este
tare frumoasă, dar nu l-aș recomanda neapărat pentru mâncare, ci mai degrabă pentru o
cafea sau, de ce nu, un pahar de prosseco.