Page 148 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

146  SICIL Y AREA B Y AREA

Syracuse: Exploring Ortygia

The island of Ortygia has always been a focal point of
Syracuse. A stronghold until the end of the 19th century, it
separates the city’s two harbours (connected by the dock
canal). Ortygia (in Italian, Ortigia) is linked to the mainland
by the Umbertino and Santa Lucia bridges. The town’s long
history is visible in many buildings, going back as far as the
6th-century BC Temple of Apollo.

} Lungomare di Levante T Artemision
This is the promenade that Piazza Minerva. Tel 329-241 71 42.
overlooks the Porto Piccolo, Open Apr–Sep: 10am–6pm Mon–
or little port, and is still the Sat, 10am–2pm Sun; Oct–Mar: Façade of Palazzo Beneventano del Bosco,
maritime heart of town. By 10am–5pm Mon–Sat. & opposite the Cathedral
going southwards along the ∑ siracuseamente.com
promenade you reach Spirito Excavated beneath the Town R Duomo (Tempio
Santo, with an 18th-century Hall, in an area identified as the di Minerva)
façade dramatically facing the oldest part of the city, this very Piazza Duomo, 4. Tel 0931-646 94.
sea. This church was the seat of early Ionic temple to Artemis Open 7:30am–8pm. &
the Holy Spirit Confra ternity, probably dates to the late 6th In Piazza Duomo, across from
hence its name. century BC. Entrance is through the Palazzo del Senato, now
a striking modern pavilion. the Town Hall, is the city’s
T Temple of Apollo Cathedral, built in 1728–53.
Largo XXV Luglio. P Palazzo Beneventano It was designed by Andrea
A good part of Piazza Pancali, as del Bosco Palma, and incorporates an
you enter Ortygia, consists of ∑ beneventanodelbosco.it ancient Temple
the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, One of the of Minerva,
which were discovered in 1860 most splendid which in
inside the old Spanish barracks. palaces in turn had
The temple, built in the early town, Palazzo been built
6th century BC, is the oldest Beneventano del over the site of
extant Doric temple in western Bosco was built in a 6th- century
Europe. It is of an imposing size – the late 18th century BC monument,
58 x 24 m (190 x 79 ft). On the over the earthquake- which Gelon
top step of the base, an shattered ruins of a Decorative coat of arms on the had dedicated to
inscription to Apollo provides medieval palace. The Duomo façade Athena. Tangible
proof that the building was façade, with its door- traces of the
dedicated to the god. Over way supporting a balcony, is an building’s several lives remain;
the centuries the temple has impressive sight. While the interior the intact ancient structures
served as a Byzantine church, cannot be visited, peep inside the can be best seen by skirting
a mosque, again a Christian gate to see the curvilinear court- the outer northern side of
church under the Normans, yard with its geometric lavastone the church, where a series of
and a military stronghold. and white marble pavement. columns from the temple are

The ruins of the Temple of Apollo, in the heart of Ortygia
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p204 and pp214–16

146-147_EW_Sicily.indd 146 04/11/2016 10:54
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.4)
Date 25th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm