Siracusa, Sicily
Immediately after breakfast we were ready to board our buses that would take us to the archaeological site of Siracusa.
This old Greco-Roman city, capital of Greece for a time is today an extensive site of ruins. The most important part is the theater, which dates back to 474 B.C., and is the largest in the world. It was carved out of solid rock, thus a “monolith” and many of the most famous works of Aeschylus and Euripides were represented here. It was prepared for a modern representation of one such work. Almost “under” it, in the infamous quarry where most of the limestone to build the city was obtained, we visited “The Ear of Dionysius” made, according to legend, so that Dionysius could hear all the secrets that his enemies were talking about.
Back on the ship we had a delicious lunch and were soon ready for a walk into the island of Ortygia. Here, the highlight is the Cathedral of Siracusa, incorporated into a Greek temple to Diana. Its pillars are part of this Byzantine basilica.
Back on board, we enjoyed a serving of fresh antipasta on the fore deck, and after an interesting recap, dinner!
Immediately after breakfast we were ready to board our buses that would take us to the archaeological site of Siracusa.
This old Greco-Roman city, capital of Greece for a time is today an extensive site of ruins. The most important part is the theater, which dates back to 474 B.C., and is the largest in the world. It was carved out of solid rock, thus a “monolith” and many of the most famous works of Aeschylus and Euripides were represented here. It was prepared for a modern representation of one such work. Almost “under” it, in the infamous quarry where most of the limestone to build the city was obtained, we visited “The Ear of Dionysius” made, according to legend, so that Dionysius could hear all the secrets that his enemies were talking about.
Back on the ship we had a delicious lunch and were soon ready for a walk into the island of Ortygia. Here, the highlight is the Cathedral of Siracusa, incorporated into a Greek temple to Diana. Its pillars are part of this Byzantine basilica.
Back on board, we enjoyed a serving of fresh antipasta on the fore deck, and after an interesting recap, dinner!
