Syracuse - where the Romans meet the Greeks

Around 10 in the morning, I arrived in Syracuse by train. The sky was gloomy to the point where I wasn't sure if I should have set out at all. At first glance, the town looked ordinary, almost atypical for Italy. I walked at a quick pace to reach the shore before the sky decided to dump all its weight on me and a few passers-by. Soon I crossed the bridge and found myself in the old town. On the right side, there was a monument to Archimedes and a couple of tourists. A little further, under the bridge, a kayaker paddled tirelessly against the waves that were rising higher and higher under the increasing gusts of wind. I didn't care about the weather anymore because I had already reached my destination.

Syracuse was the most important city of Greek Sicily. According to legend, Archias founded Syracuse in 734 BC as a Corinthian colony. The history of Syracuse was more than turbulent, it was conquered by the Byzantines, Normans, Arabs, up to the Spanish Habsburgs and Bourbons.

Syracuse is the fourth largest city in Sicily. Known as the successor of the ancient Greek city of the same name, which was the strongest center of Great Greece, the place where Archimedes lived.

Archimedes statue

The Archimedean spiral

The Temple of Apollo

Alpheus and Arethusa

Piazza Duomo and the Cathedral of Syracuse

Maniace Castle