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The site consists of two separate elements, containing outstanding vestiges dating back to Greek and Roman times: The Necropolis of Pantalica contains over 5,000 tombs cut into the rock near open stone quarries, most of them dating from the 13th to 7th centuries BC. Vestiges of the Byzantine era also remain in the area, notably the foundations of the Anaktoron (Prince’s Palace). The other part of the property, 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.
From our members:
smittytabb visited from 9/18/2013 to 9/18/2013.
YVR cockroach visited from 10/27/2010 to 10/27/2010.
otaniemi visited from 12/30/2007 to 12/30/2007.
ms1664 visited from 10/26/2007 to 10/26/2007.
traveler maklaj andrew84 anna_1 flugvergnugen Cavman pgem pgem Patrickmassey Patrickmassey Patrickmassey Patrickmassey Patrickmassey globecalledhome dbutorac dbutorac davidciani YVRcockroach farinelli Daniela Peltzi biagig Stefano acunningham drlatorre Truls mmmwww 4matcha timallen
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