Day 19: Siracusa

Thursday 6th June

Siracusa has existed as a city for two and a half millennia. Archimedes lived here. Plato visited and commented on the temple of Athena, now within the cathedral. The Romans, of course, worked their magic too. So after a wonderful breakfast we headed out to the archeological park two miles away, via the market.

 A fish stall was selling a tonne of tuna 

The fishmonger was singing.

We saw a statue of Archimedes inside what we thought was a museum; it turned out to be a secondary school.

The students were giving sweets they had just made to the security guards.

By the time we reached the archaeological park it was very hot. Each May and June plays are performed at the Greek theatre, which dates from 300bc. Today, there is a performance of Sophocles’ Ajax. It’s incredible to think the same play may have been performed there 2300 years ago.

I was reminded of the first time I did an interrail trip, to Athens with Aled Jones 50 years ago.

The longest altar in the ancient world, the Altar of Hieron is in Siracusa too. 

According to tradition, up to 450 bulls were sacrificed here on the occasion of the feasts that commemorated the expulsion of the tyrant Trasibulos.

Later, the Romans built an amphitheatre nearby. 

 

Time for lunch. €35 well spent at a local restaurant recommended by the hosts at our B&b.

Then back to the B&b for a rest.

After an arancini, cannoli and limoncello, we were hobnobbing with the super-rich and modelling Korean handbags as we waited for the sunset.