Unesco sites: Noto and Syracuse

Noto

Ancient Noto was situated on the Meti hill, 152m above sea level. It was inhabited in prehistoric times, as testified by the numerous necropolis and substantial archaeological. The ancient Neai witnessed a considerable developpement under Hieron I. In Roman times, it became a “civitas foederate”. After the Byzantine age it was conquered by the Arabs and raised to the status of capital of the Val di Noto department, becoming a rich stronghold of Muslim power and Sicily. Under the Normands and the Swabians it was a city of the royal domain, it enjoyed considerable economic and commercial prosperity. In the 16C and 17C the transformation of the medieval town began, but  it was suddenly interrupted by 1963 earthquake.

SYRACUSE

Archaeological investigation has found human traces dating from as early as the 14C BC on the Island of Ortygia, the great city of Syracuse was to be founded in the 8C BC. In a 70-year period led to the foundation of three colonies: Akrai, Casmene and Camarina.

The Greek theatre: Hieron II had it built on the site of a pre-existing theatre whose history is associated with Aeschylus of Eleusis, the first of the great Greek tragedicians, Epicharmus the Syracusan, father of Greek comedy, and their contemporaries Phormides and Deinolochus.

The Ear of Dionysius: this artificial cave, 65m long and 23m high, was given its name by Michelangelo Merisi known as Caravaggio, he visited the Latomie del Paradiso and the cave.

The Temple of Apollo (Apolloyon): It is considered the oldest Doric peripteral temple in Sicily. It measures 58.10x24.50m with 17 columns on the long sides and 6 on the fronts. The cella was divided into isles by two rows of double-order columns.

The Cathedral (Duomo): the Christian basilica was built in the 7C on the site of the pre-existing temple of Athena. Ten Doric columns of the temple. The Cathedral façade was rebuilt in 1725-1753.