After several years of closure, one of the oldest sites of underground Ortigia reopens to the public. It is the Artemision, the Ionian temple of Syracuse dedicated to Artemis, the great goddess of the hunt. This temple was located at the highest point of the island of Ortigia, in the area that today corresponds to Piazza Duomo and stood next to the other great temple in the same area, the Athenaion, the temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, on which the cathedral of Syracuse was later built. While the remains of the Athenaion are still visible today from the square and the nearby Via Minerva, from which it is possible to admire the mighty Doric columns incorporated into the cathedral's walls, the same is not true for the Artemision.
The Ionian temple is located below Palazzo Vermexio, the current seat of the municipal building of Syracuse, and was discovered by archaeologist Paolo Orsi in 1910. A few years ago, a new architectural arrangement by Vincenzo Latina allowed the use of the basement and at the same time the view of the columns of the nearby Doric temple thanks to a specially designed pavilion. Then came the long closure, which will end on May 26, 2024, with the reopening to the public.
Underneath Palazzo Vermexio, you can admire the foundations of the temple and various other testimonies of ancient Syracuse. Artemis was one of the most beloved deities in the Corinthian colony and is closely connected to Syracuse in its most famous myth, that of Alpheus and Arethusa. Although Syracuse was founded by Dorian settlers, this slender and elegant temple was commissioned with elegant Ionian-style capitals.
The management of the monument is entrusted to Civita, and the site will be open to visitors from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm with entrance from Via Minerva n.4. The admission fee for adults will be €5, with a reduction to €3 for several categories, €2 for residents and students, and free admission for disabled persons, tour guides, journalists, and accompanying teachers. The admission ticket also includes an audio guide in Italian and English. For more information, you can contact Civita at +39 335 7304378.
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photo credits: S.Leggio/Clicksfromsicily.com
