The medieval past of Syracuse in 6 stages
- 2:00 h
- 4,2 KM
- Easy
The earthquake and tsunami of 1693 devastated much of eastern Sicily, almost entirely destroying the coastal cities or razing them entirely to the ground, as happened with the city of Noto. These events also risked definitively erasing the city of Syracuse, already hit hard by the earthquake of 1542. The city managed to be reborn from the rubble left by those natural disasters thanks to a reconstruction project, which led to the birth of the Syracuse we know today: a triumphof Sicilian baroque and rococo architecture.
Although the buildings and monuments built from the 17th century onwards are certainly the best known and most appreciated, Syracuse still retains evidence of its medieval past, an eternal memory of its ancient form. Often considered a dark and backward period, the Middle Ages were instead an era of artistic splendor, which deserves to be re-evaluated and discovered. Citymap has chosen for you 6 of the most interesting medieval sites located in the city of Syracuse, ready to be known and appreciated by the most passionate tourists.
Choose this route, and get ready to take a journey back in time to medieval Syracuse!
Catacombs of St. John
The Catacombs of St. John were built in the fourth century, following the route of a former Greek aqueduct (with its tanks), and enlarged until the fifth century. The structure consists of a central gallery from which branch out ten secondary ones, leading to four …
The Basilica of Saint Lucia al Sepolcro
The Basilica stands on the place Saint Lucia, patron saint of Siracusa, was martyred. Probably built over a byzantine basilica the actual building was built by the Normans over an existing Arab construction. Norman details can still be seen on the façade and the floors …
Palace Mergulese Montalto
The palace Mergulense – Montalto is located in the ancient Spirduta (“spidduta”), the island of Ortigia. The building dates back to the fourteenth century and is characterized by a medieval prospectus with carved dark stones, typical of the fourteenth century architecture of Syracuse. It …
Church of St.Giovanni the Baptist
The Church of St. Giovanni the Baptist or St. Giovannello (as known in Siracusa) is located in the Jewish quarter of Giudecca. After having been used as a theater, an auditorium and a place for conferences, today the church is open for worship.
Church of St. Martino
The church dedicated to St. Martino Bishop is one of the first churches in Siracusa. Although the exact dating is difficult because of several changes, the characteristics of some architectural elements leads to believe that the church was built in the sixth century AC. The …
Maniace’s Castle
In front of the mythical Fonte Aretusa, we can see the imposing Maniace’s Castle, on the extreme tip of the island. The building is among the most important monuments of the Swabian period, and certainly the one that still sees formulated as many conjectures. The …