- Details
During the first semester of 2024, the rock-cut oratory of the Crocifisso di Lentini (SR) will reopen to visitors for monthly guided tours. We have received and republish on our blog the information regarding the scheduled openings.
- Details
Syracuse is a town with a millennia-long history, whose monuments attract and fascinate tourists from all over the world. Recently also Hollywood and its most famous fictional archaeologist were fascinated by the history of the most powerful of the Greek colonies and its impressive archaeological remains. The movie "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" the fifth chapter of the archaeologist's adventures, is extensively inspired by the history of Syracuse and its locations. Already starting with the plot that sees Indy on the trail of the most incredible of Archimedes' inventions (the genius from Syracuse who lived in the 3rd century BC) and continuing with the locations. The latest adventure of Dr. Jones takes him on a long journey with Sicily and the town of Syracuse as its destination. The people of Syracuse still vividly remember the film crew working in town. But where can you find the Syracuse locations used during the filming of Indiana Jones? In this post, we will try to provide some useful information for those who plan to visit Syracuse, follow in Indy's footsteps, and perhaps discover the miraculous dial of destiny created by Archimedes. We will try to avoid spoilers as much as possible for those who haven't seen the movie yet.
- Details
Archimedes, the famous physicist, mathematician, and inventor who lived in the 3rd century BC, was Greek but a Greek born in the most powerful of the Western colonies, Syracuse. Many tourists participating at Hermes Sicily's guided tours, ask us information about the life of this universally recognized genius, who became famous thanks to stories and legends about him. Who doesn't know his exclamation "Eureka" when he discovered that what is now called "Archimede's principle"? And who hasn't heard the story of the burning mirrors that Archimedes invented to burn out the Roman ships which where attacking the town of Syracuse? After hearing the tales from our guides about Archimedes' studies and achievements, many of the participants in our guided tours also ask us where the tomb of the famous Syracusan inventor is located. The answer to this question is not simple. Various tourist guide books and signs in the city indicate the "Tomb of Archimedes." The indicated location is inside the Neapolis Park, the most important and visited archaeological area in the city. Here, on the edge of the park, in an area that is not always open to visitors (only seasonally), there is a monumental tomb carved into the rock and decorated with a triangular roof and the remains of two columns. Altough this part of the Neapolis Park is not always accessible, this archaeological monument can also be seen from the outside fence, on the side of Viale Teracati. This tomb surely captures the imagination of those visiting Syracuse in the footsteps of Archimedes but actually that it is a "false tomb of Archimedes" related to the famous inventor only by the local tradition. The legenday name of this tomb is probably due to its geometric decorations which meet the stories of the ancient historians recounted, stating that a triangle and a sphere were built on Archimedes' tomb to honor his studies of geometry. Actually archaeological digs carried out in the 20th century have dated this tomb to a later period, identifying it instead as a Roman columbarium.
- Details
Discover the Best of Siracusa in Just Half a Day
Siracusa, Syracuse, the fourth largest city in Sicily and the main town of the province with the same name, should be a must-see for anyone visiting eastern Sicily. The town boasts important monuments (Roman orator Cicero called it the greatest of the Greek colonies in the West), a charming historic center, an enviable location by the sea, and excellent cuisine. However, Sicily is a region that offers many choices and places to see for tourists, and not everyone has the time to plan a fixed or extended stay in the town of Aretusa. With this short article, we want to give some advice to those who, during their visit to Sicily, are only planning only a short stop in Siracusa. Below we give a series of useful tips on what to see and how to move around to visit Siracusa in half a day.