Hi, it’s Cristina,
Last time I spoke to you about Ortigia, the magnificent historic centre of Syracuse, today we are diving into the past to discover the ancient Neapolis, an archaeological park dedicated to the remains of an ancient Greek city, now included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Where is the Neapolis Archaeological Park?
The Neapolis Archaeological Park covers 24,000 square metres in a naturalistic area on the outskirts of Syracuse. A place dedicated to lovers of Greek history, who can take a long walk immersed in the remains of this ancient civilisation.
The masterpieces of the past present in the Neapolis Park are many. In fact, this is one of the largest archaeological areas in the Mediterranean and one of the most beautiful and best preserved in all of Sicily.
What not to miss?
The Greek Theatre appeared in Neapolis around the 2nd century B.C., in the Archaic period. The building was considered one of the largest entertainment structures in the Greek world. The semi-circular plan is divided into 9 sections. Each section holds 67 tiers of seats with a maximum capacity of 14000 spectators. The stage was occupied by actors who performed comedies or mythological tragedies. Later, in Roman times, it was used as a forum for public assemblies and then returned to its former glory, hosting ancient dramas performed by the greatest actors of our time.
This Roman structure built in the imperial age is one of the jewels in the crown of the archaeological park of Syracuse. Second in size only to the great Arena of Verona, it hosted bloody battles between gladiators. In fact, the service tunnels and openings that made men and fierce beasts appear are still clearly visible. A perfect example is the large pool in the centre of the arena, which once housed the machinery for staging the shows.
This is a large monumental complex built by Emperor Hieron II in 466 BC, a temple dedicated to Zeus the Liberator. Only the sacrificial altar has remained intact, which was accessed by two ramps at the side of the building. The large entrance gates were guarded by two enormous statues depicting Talamones, of which few remains have survived.
In the northern area of the Neapolis archaeological park we find the Latomie, ancient stone quarries, a true natural spectacle to be admired. In particular, I recommend a visit to the Grotta del Ninfeo (Cave of the Nymphaeum), a waterfall from which the water of the River Anapo flows, brought here by the ancient aqueduct. Among the many wonders, I recommend the Grotta dei Cordari and the Grotta del Salnistro, which can be reached from the Sentiero delle Grandi Latomie. But the most famous of all is the cave nicknamed by Caravaggio: the ear of Dionysus. The acoustics inside are famous for amplifying sounds. In fact, it was common to lock up enemy prisoners here to listen to their whispers and learn their secrets.
The Neapolis Archaeological Park is an ocean of secrets and stories that ancient Greece whispers to you at every step.
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