Ancient Syracuse, includes the nucleus of the city’s foundation as Ortygia by Greeks from Corinth in the 8th century BC. The site of the city, which Cicero described as ‘the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of all’, retains vestiges such as the Temple of Athena (5th century BC, later transformed to serve as a cathedral), a Greek theatre, a Roman amphitheatre, a fort and more. Many remains bear witness to the troubled history of Sicily, from the Byzantines to the Bourbons, interspersed with the Arabo-Muslims, the Normans, Frederick II of the Hohenstaufen dynasty (1197–1250), the Aragons and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Historic Syracuse offers a unique testimony to the development of Mediterranean civilization over three millennia. (
whc.unesco.org/en/list/1200)
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The history of ancient Syracuse began with the island of Ortigia. It is here that the most interesting sights of the city are located:
Duomo di Siracusa on the site of the Temple of Athena
...the
Tempio di Apollo (Apollonion), Siracusa (UNESCO # 1200)
... and
Aretusa - ancient fountain with thickets of papyrus.
And the island itself is a colorful combination of narrow medieval streets, large spacious squares and a picturesque seashore...
Two bridges connect the island with the rest of the city. having walked along one of them, we walked there almost the whole day.
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