Step into the thrilling world of adventure and archaeology by following in the footsteps of Indiana Jones in Syracuse, Sicily.
Syracuse was inhabited by the Greeks as well as the Romans. The Byzantines, the Aghlabids and the Normans were also passing through this region located in the south-east of Sicily. All left behind architectural treasures around which the modern city developed.
The route we offer will take you from a spooky underground crypt to the ruins of an ancient temple, in the footsteps of Indiana Jones, in search of fortune and glory. Fear not: the greatest danger will be succumbing to the rustic trattorias and glaciers of Syracuse.
- THE CATACOMBS OF SAINT-JEAN
Start your visit with the ruins of St. John’s Basilica, in the heart of Syracuse. Access the underground labyrinth housing thousands of burial chambers carved into the cool, damp earth by descending winding stairs.
Take the narrow vaulted tunnels to admire, by torchlight, the Christian frescoes dating from the 4th and 5th centuries, while a light breeze shakes the cobwebs and droplets of water fall from the rock above you.
- DIONYSUS EAR
Find the light of day and reach the immense Archaeological Park of Neapolis, which is home to sites spanning four millennia. Take the paths that wind between the orange trees to access this crack, which is almost 23 meters high and formed in the wall of an old quarry.
According to legend, the acoustics of this man-made, ear-shaped cave with a curved canal dug deep into the rock were designed to amplify the conversations of the prisoners incarcerated there. Shout in the darkness to hear the echo of your own voice.
- THE ROMAN AMPHITHEATER
Be sure to visit the ruins of the Roman amphitheater, the third largest of its type in Italy, also located in the Neapolis Archaeological Park. Although trees and grassy mounds now invade the amphitheater, its oval shape can still be clearly seen. The blocks of white stone, carved directly into the rock, give an idea of the grandeur of the original site, where gladiator fights took place several thousand years ago.
- THE SALUMERIA
Head towards the coast, cross the small bridge that leads to the baroque district of the island of Ortygia and settle in at La Salumeria. The establishment is located near the Ortygia street market, where merchants have been selling seafood and land products on their stalls for centuries.
The best place is among the potted plants in the small, sun-drenched square in front of the restaurant, from where you will hear the merchants. The restaurant, which also serves as a grocery store, offers Sicilian platters made with cold meats, cheeses, olives, artichokes, and dried tomatoes. Piazza Cesare Battisti, 4.
- THE TEMPLE OF APOLLO
Set off to explore the streets and piazzas of Ortygia during a short digestive stroll, and take the time to stop in front of the ruins of the Greek temple of Apollo.
This site dates from the 6th century BC. JC is too fragile to accommodate visitors, but you can admire it from the viewpoint located at the top of Piazza Emanuele Pancali. The medieval wall bears witness to the temple’s later use as a mosque and church, but several columns of impressive origin still stand, like redwoods wedged between collapsed blocks of rock.
- THE MANIACE CASTLE
Complete your archaeological quest at the southern end of Ortygia, where Maniace Castle stands, an impenetrable fortress of looters since the 13th century.
The site grew and evolved over the centuries. Before appearing in the film Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the castle served as a palace, prison, and lighthouse. Stroll along the ramparts to enjoy a magnificent panorama of the Ionian Sea, where you can watch the sunset at the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks below.
Mark.