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| {{coor title dms|37|05|00|N|15|17|00|E|type:city}} | |||
| {{Infobox Settlement | |||
| |official_name = Syracuse | |||
| |established_title = Founded | |||
| |established_date = ] | |||
| |nickname = | |||
| |motto = | |||
| |website = http://www.comune.siracusa.it | |||
| |image_skyline = Siracusa sunrise.jpg | |||
| |image_flag = | |||
| |image_seal = Siracusa-Stemma.png | |||
| |seal_size = 100px | |||
| |image_map = Map_of_Siracusa.png | |||
| |map_caption = Location of the city of Syracuse (red dot) within Italy. | |||
| |mapsize = 215px | |||
| |subdivision_type = ] | |||
| |subdivision_type1 = ] | |||
| |subdivision_name = ] | |||
| |subdivision_name1 = ] | |||
| |leader_title = ] | |||
| |leader_name = ] | |||
| |area_magnitude = | |||
| |area_total_sq_mi = | |||
| |area_total_km2 = 204 | |||
| |population_footnotes = | |||
| |population_as_of = December 2004 | |||
| |population_total = 123,322 (]) | |||
| |population_urban = | |||
| |area_urban_km2 = | |||
| |area_urban_sq_mi = | |||
| |population_metro = | |||
| |population_density_km2 =593 | |||
| |population_density_sq_mi = | |||
| |timezone = ] | |||
| |utc_offset = +1 | |||
| |timezone_DST = | |||
| |utc_offset_DST = | |||
| |latd=37 |latm=05 |lats= |latNS=N |longd=15 |longm=17 |longs= |longEW=E | |||
| |elevation_m = | |||
| |elevation_ft = | |||
| |postal_code_type = Postal codes | |||
| |postal_code = 96100 | |||
| |area_code = 0931 | |||
| |blank_name = Patron saints | |||
| |blank_info = ] | |||
| |footnotes = | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Syracuse''' (]: '''''Siracusa''''', ]: '''''Sarausa''''', ]: {{polytonic|'''''Συράκουσαι'''''}}) is a historic ] in ] ], the ] of the ]. The city is noted for its rich Greek history, ], ]s, ] and association to ], playing an important role in ancient times as one of the top powers of the ] world; it is over 2,700 years old. Syracuse is located in the south-east corner of the island of ], right by the Gulf of Syracuse next to the ]. | |||
| The city was founded by ] ]ians and became a very powerful ]. Syracuse was allied with ] and ], exorting influence over the entire '']'' area of which it was the most important city. Once described by ] as "the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all", it later became part of the ] and ]. After this ] overtook it in importance, as the capital of the ]. Eventually the kingdom would be united with the ] to form the ] until the ] of 1860. | |||
| In the modern day, the city is listed by ] as a ] along with the ]. In the central area, the city itself has a population of around 125 thousand people, the inhabitants are known as ''Siracusans'', the local language spoken by its inhabitants is the ]. Syracuse is mentioned in the ] in the ] book at 28:12 as ] stayed there.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://members.datafast.net.au/sggram/f763.htm|publisher=SimplyBible.com|title=Acts Facts: Syracuse|date=] ]}}</ref> The ] of the city is ], she was born in Syracuse and her feast day, ], is celebrated on ]. | |||
| == History == | |||
| === Greek period === | |||
| {{main|Magna Graecia|List of Tyrants of Syracuse}} | |||
| Syracuse and its surrounding area have been inhabited since ancient times, as shown by the findings in the villages of Stentinello, Ognina, Plemmirio, Matrensa, Cozzo Pantano and ''Thapsos'', which already had a relationship with ]. | |||
| Syracuse was founded in 734 or 733 BC by ] settlers from ] and ], led by the ''oecist'' (colonizer) ], who called it '''Sirako''', referring to a nearby swamp. The nucleus of the ancient city was the small island of '''Ortygia'''. The settlers found the land fertile and the native tribes to be reasonably well-disposed to their presence. The city grew and prospered, and for some time stood as the most powerful Greek city anywhere in the ]. Colonies were founded at ] (664 BC), ] (643 BC) and ] (598 BC). The descendants of the first colonist, called ''Gamoroi'', held the power until they were expelled by the ''Killichiroi'', the lower class of the city. The former, however, returned to power in 485 BC, thanks to the help of ], ruler of ]. Gelo himself became the despot of the city, and moved many inhabitants of Gela, Kamarina and Megera to Syracuse, building the new quarters of ] and ] outside the walls. His program of new constructions included a new theater, designed by ], which gave the city a flourishing cultural life: this in turn attracted personalities as ], Ario of ], Eumelos of ] and ], who had been exiled here from ]. The enlarged power of Syracuse made unavoidable the clash against the ]s, who ruled western Sicily. In the ], Gelo, who had allied with Theron of ], decisively defeated the African force led by ]. A ], entitled to ] (on the site of the today's Cathedral), was erected in the city to commemorate the event | |||
| ] (c. 415–405 BC), sporting ] and a ].|220px|thumb]] | |||
| Gelo was succedeed by his brother ], who ] against the ]s at ] in 474 BC. His rule was eulogized by poets like ], ] and ], who visited his court. A democratic regime was introduced by ] (467 BC). The city continued to expand in ], fighting against the rebellious ], and on the ], making expeditions up to ] and ]. In the late 5th century BC, Syracuse found itself at war with ], which sought more resources to fight the ]. The Syracusans enlisted the aid of a general from ], Athens' foe in the war, to defeat the Athenians, destroy their ships, and leave them to starve on the island (see ]). In 401 BC, Syracuse contributed a force of 3,000 ] and a general to ]'s ]. | |||
| Then in the early 4th century BC, the ] ] was again at war against ] and, although losing Gela and Camarina, kept that power from capturing the whole of Sicily. After the end of the conflict Dionysius built a massive fortress on the ] island of the city and 22 km-long walls around all of Syracuse. Another period of expansion saw the destruction of ], ] and ], then Syracuse entered again in war against Carthage (397 BC). After various changes of fortune, the Africans managed to besiege Syracuse itself, but were eventually pushed back by a pestilence. A treaty in 392 BC allowed Syracuse to enlarge further its possessions, founding the cities of Adrano, ], ], Tindari and Tauromenos, and conquering ] on the continent. Apart from his battle deeds, Dionysius was famous as a patron of art, and ] himself visited Syrcacuse several times. | |||
| His successor was ], who was however expelled by ] in 356 BC. But the latter's despotic rule led in turn to his expulsion, and Dionysius reclaimed his throne in 347 BC. A democratic government was installed by ] in 345 BC. The long series of internal struggles had weakened Syracuse's power on the island, and Timoleon tried to remedy this, defeating the Carthaginians in 339 BC near the ] river. But the struggle among the city's parties restarted after his death and ended with the rise of another tyrant, ], who seized power with a coup in 317 BC. He resumed the war against Carthage, with alternate fortunes. He however scored a moral success, bringing the war to the Carthaginians' native African soil, inflicting heavy losses to the enemy. The war ended with another treaty of peace which did not prevent the Carthaginians interfering in the politics of Syracuse after the death of Agathocles (289 BC). The citizens called ] for help. After a brief period under the rule of Epirus, ] seized power in 275 BC. | |||
| Hiero inaugurated a period of 50 years of peace and prosperity, in which Syracause became one of the most renowned capitals of Antiquity. He issued the so-called ''Lex Hieronica'', which was later adopted by the Romans for their administration of Sicily; he also had the theater enlarged and a new immense ], the "Hiero's Ara", built. Under his rule the most famous Syracusan lived, the ] ]. Among his many inventions were various military engines including the ], later used to resist the ] siege of 214 BC–212 BC. Literary figures included ] and others. | |||
| ] | |||
| Hiero's successor, the young ] (ruled from 215 BC), broke the alliance with the Romans after their defeat at ] and accepted ]'s support. The Romans, led by consul ], ] in 214 BC. The city held out for three years, but fell in 212 BC. It is believed to have fallen due to a peace party opening a small door in the wall to negotiate a peace, but the Romans charged through the door and took the city, killing Archimedes in the process. | |||
| === From Roman domination to the Middle Ages === | |||
| Though declining slowly by the years, Syracuse maintained the status of capital of the Roman government of Sicily and seat of the ]. It remained an important port for the trades between the Eastern and the Western parts of the Empire. ] spread in the city through the efforts of ] and Saint Marziano, the first bishop of the city, who made it one of the main centres of ] in the West. In the age the persecutions massive ]s were carved, whose size are second only to those of Rome. | |||
| After a period of ] rule, Syracuse and the island was recovered by ] for the ] (] ]). From 663 to 668 Syracuse was the seat of Emperor ], as well as metropolis of the whole Sicilian Church. | |||
| Another siege in 878, which ended with the fierce sack of the city, began two centuries of ] rule. Syracuse lost its capital status in favour of ]. The Cathedral was turned into a ] and the quarter on the Ortygia island was gradually rebuilt along Islamic styles. The city, anyway, maintained important trade relationships, and housed a relatively flourishing cultural and artistic life: several Arab poets, including ], the most important Sicilian poet of the 12th century, lived here. | |||
| In 1038, the Byzantine general ] reconquered the city, sending the relics of St. Lucy to ]. The eponymous castle on the cape of Ortygia bears his name, although it was built under the ] rule. In 1085 the ] entered Syracuse, one of the last ] strongholds, after a summer-long siege by ] and his son ], who was given the city as count. New quarters were built, and the cathedral was restored, as well as other churches. | |||
| ] | |||
| In 1194 ] of ] occupied Syracuse. After a short period of ] rule (1205–1220), which favoured a rise of trades, Syracuse was conquered back by emperor ]. He began the construction of the ], the Bishops' Palace and the Bellomo Palace. Frederick's death brought a period of unrest and feudal anarchy. In the struggle between the ] and ] monarchies, Syracuse sided with the Aragonese and defeated the Anjou in 1298, receiving from the Spanish sovereigns great privileges in reward. The pre-eminence of baronal families is also showed by the construction of the palaces of ], ], ], ]. | |||
| === Modern Syracuse === | |||
| The city was struck by two ruinous earthquakes in 1542 and ], and a plague in 1729. The 17th century destruction changed forever the appearance of Syracuse, as well as the entire ], whose cities were rebuilt along the typical lines of ], considered one of the most typical expressions of art of Southern Italy. The spread of ] in 1837 led to a revolt against the ] government. The punishment was the move of the province capital seat to ], but the unrest had not been totally choked, as the Siracusani took part in the ]. | |||
| After the ] of 1865, Syracuse regained its status of provincial capital. In 1870 the walls were demolished and a bridge connecting the mainland to Ortygia island was built. In the following year a railway link was constructed. | |||
| Heavy destruction was caused by the Allied and the German bombings in 1943. After the end of ] the northern quarters of Syracuse experienced a heavy, often chaotic, expansion, favoured by the quick process of industrialization. | |||
| Syracuse today has about 125,000 inhabitants and numerous attractions for the visitor interested in historical sites (such as the ]). A process of recovering and restoring the historical centre has been ongoing since the 1990s. Nearby places of note include ], ], ] and ]. | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| == Main sights== | |||
| === Ancient buildings === | |||
| * The ''Temple of Apollo'', adapted to a church in Byzantine times and to a mosque under Arab rule. | |||
| * The '']'', in the Ortygia island. According to a legend, the ] ], hunted by Alpheus, took shelter here. | |||
| * The ''Theatre'', whose ] is one of the largest ever built by the ancient Greeks: it has 67 rows, divided into nine sections with eight aisles. Only traces of the scene and the ] remain. The edifice (still used today) was modified by the Romans, who adapted it to their different style of spectacles, including also circus games. Near the theatre are the ''latomìe'', stone quarries, also used as prisons in ancient times. The most famous ''latomìa'' is the '']'' ("Ear of Dionysius"). | |||
| * The ''Roman amphitheatre'', of Roman Imperial age. It was partly carved out from the rock. In the centre of the area is a rectangular space which was used for the scenic machinery. | |||
| * The so-called ''Tomb of Archimede'', in the Grotticelli Nechropolis. Decorated with two Doric columns, it was a Roman tomb. | |||
| * The ''Temple of Olympian ]'', about 3 km outside the city, built around ]. | |||
| ===Churches=== | |||
| * The ''Cathedral'' was built by bishop Zosimo in the 7th century over the great ''Temple of Athens'' (5th century BC), on the Ortygia island. This was a ] edifice with six columns on the short sides and 14 on the long ones: these can still be seen incorporated in the walls of the current church. The base of the Greek edifice had three steps. The interior of the church has a nave and two aisles. The roof of the nave is from Norman times, as well as the mosaics in the apses. The façade was rebuilt by ] in 1725–1753, with a double order of ]s, and statues by Ignazio Marabitti. The most interesting pieces of the interior are a font with marble basin (12th–13th century), a silver statue of ''St. Lucy'' by Pietro Rizzo (1599), a ] by ], and a statue of the ''Madonna della Neve'' ("Madonna of the Snow", 1512) by ]. | |||
| * Basilica of ''Santa Lucia ]'', a Byzantine church built, according to tradition, in the same place of the martyrdom of the saint in 303 AD. The current appearance is from the 15th-16th centuries. The most ancient parts still preserved include the portal, the three half-circular apses and the first two orders of the belfry. Under the church are the ''Catacombs of St. Lucy''. | |||
| * Church of ''San Paolo'' (18th century). | |||
| * Church of ''San Cristoforo'' (14th century, rebuilt in the 18th century). | |||
| * Church of ''Santa Lucìa alla Badìa'', a Baroque edifice built after the 1693 earthquake. | |||
| * ''Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli'' (13th century). | |||
| * ''Church of the Spirito Santo'' (18th century). | |||
| * Church of the ''Jesuite College'', a majestic, Baroque building. | |||
| * Church of ''St. Benedict'' (16th century, restored after 1693). It houses a painting of the ''Death of Saint Benedict'' by the ] ]. | |||
| * ''Chiesa della Concezione'' (14th century, rebuilt in the 18th century), with the annexed Benedictine convent. | |||
| * ''Church of San Francesco all'Immacolata'', with a convex façade intermingled by columns and pilaster strips. It housed and ancient celebration, the Svelata ("Revelation"), in which an image of the Madonna was unveiled at dawn of ]. | |||
| * Basilica of ''St. John the Evangelist'', built by the Normans and destroyed in 1693. Only partially restored it was erected over an ancient crypt of the martyr San Marciano, later destroyed by the Arabs. The main altar is Byzantine. It includes the ''Catacombs of San Giovanni'', featuring a maze of tunnels and passages, with thousands of tombs and several frescoes. | |||
| === Other edifices and sights === | |||
| * The '']'', constructed between 1232 and 1240, is an example of the military architecture of Frederick II's reign. It is a square structure with circular towers at each of the four corners. The most striking feature is the pointed portal, decorated with polychrome marbles. | |||
| * The important ''Archaeological Museum'', with collections including findings from the mid-Bronze Age to 5th century BC. | |||
| * ''Palazzo Lanza Buccheri'' (16th century). | |||
| * ''Palazzo Mergulese-Montalto'' (14th century), which conserves the old façade from the 14th century, with a pointed portal. | |||
| * The ''Archbishop's Palace'' (17th century, modified in the following century). It houses the ''Alagonian Library'', founded in the late 18th century. | |||
| * The ''Palazzo Vermexio'', the current Town Hall, which includes fragments of an ] temple of the 5th century BC. | |||
| * ''Palazzo Francica Nava'', with parts of the original 16th century building surviving. | |||
| * ''Palazzo Beneventano del Bosco'', originally built in the Middle Ages but extensively modified between 1779 and 1788. It has a pleasant internal court. | |||
| * ''Palazzo Migliaccio'' (15th century), with notable lava inlay decorations. | |||
| * The ''Senate Palace'', housing in the court an 18th century ]. | |||
| * The ''Castle of Euryalos'', built nine kilometres outside the city by Dionysius the Elder and which was one of the most powerful fortresses of ancient times. It had three moats with a series of underground galleries which allowed the defenders to remove the materials the attackers could use to fill them. | |||
| ==International relations== | |||
| {{Infobox World Heritage Site | |||
| | WHS = <small>'''Syracuse & the ]'''</small> | |||
| | Image = ] | |||
| | State Party = {{ITA}} | |||
| | Type = Cultural | |||
| | Criteria = ii, iii, iv, vi | |||
| | ID = 1200 | |||
| | Region = ] | |||
| | Year = 2005 | |||
| | Session = 29th | |||
| | Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1200 | |||
| }} | |||
| Syracuse is involved in ] (known as ''gemellaggio'' in Italian), a mutual partnership with other cities. To date Syracuse is only twinned to one town, fittingly as Syracuse was founded by Corinthians as a ] colony, the modern day city of ] in ] is twinned with it;<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.libertasicilia.com/press/more.php?id=2477_0_1_0_M|publisher=Liberta Sicilia|title=Gemellaggio tra Siracusa e Corinto|date=] ]}}</ref> | |||
| '''Partner city:''' | |||
| * {{flagicon|Greece}} ] | |||
| Since 2005, the entire city of Syracuse, along with the ] which falls within the ], has been listed as a ] by ], a programme which aims to catalogue, name, and conserve sites of outstanding ] or ] importance to the common heritage of ]. The deciding committee who evaluate potential candidates described their reasons for choosing Syracuse because "monuments and archeological sites situated in Syracuse are the finest example of outstanding architectural creation spanning several cultural aspects; ], ] and ]", following on that Ancient Syracuse was "directly linked to events, ideas and literary works of outstanding universal significance".<ref name="unesco">{{cite news|url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1200|publisher=]|title=Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica|date=] ]}}</ref> | |||
| Although knowhere near the level of historic importance of the Sicilian city, around the world there are ] and a ] named after Syracuse. The most numerous examples are in the ], though the Sicilian city maintains no formal relationship with any ] entities. | |||
| == See also == | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{Reflist|2}} | |||
| == External links == | |||
| {{commons-inline|Siracusa}} | |||
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| {{Province of Syracuse}} | |||
| {{World Heritage Sites in Italy}} | |||
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