Tourist information - Siracusa
Siracusa is the main town of the province, and is 217 Km. distant from Agrigento, 191 Km. from Caltanissetta, 58 Km. from Catania, 172 Km. from Enna, 154 Km. from Messina, 307 Km. from Palermo, 81 Km. from Ragusa, 390 Km. from Trapani.
The municipality has 127.224 inhabitants, its surface measures 20.408 hectares and its population density counts 623 residents for square kilometre. It rises on the flat area, 17 metres across the sea-level.
The main economical events are agriculture, cattle breeding and also fishing. Since 1950s a notable industrial development has been reported. It mainly produces grapes, cereals, olives, almonds, vegetables and citrus fruits. There are also cow, sheep and pig farms.
The name of the town arises from the nearby march Sykara and received this name in the 8th century BC when the Corinthians established it. Actually the town was created on the isle of Ortigia, populated already in the 14th century BC by Siculians and Phoenicians. Later on many houses were built also on the mainland. In the 7th and 6th century BC, Siracusa founded the colonies of Akrai, Casmene and Camarina. In 485 it was conquered by Gelone, tyrant of Gela, who defeated the Carthaginians in 480 BC in Imera. From 479 BC to 467 BC, Siracusa was ruled by Ierone, whose successor was Trasibulo. Under his tyranny, the Siracusans rebelled and developed a democratic government.
In the 5th century Siracusa conquered the Etruscans, the local rebels of Ducezio as well as the Athenians, in a naval battle. In order to face the Carthaginians, the tyranny was introduced once more. Right after the destruction of Selinunte and Agrigento, Dionigi signed a peace agreement with the Carthaginians in the 5th century BC. Around the following century, Cartage menaced Siracusa all over again, which was under a democratic government wanted by the Corinthian Timoleonte. The town asked Pirro, king of Epirus, for help. He prevailed and expelled the Carthaginians, but in 275 BC he was forced to abandon the town, as his government became unpopular.
During the centuries it was conquered by the Romans, the Goths, the Byzantines, the Arabs, the Normans, the Genoeses, the Swabians and the Aragonese. It was drastically damaged by the earthquakes in 1542 and 1693. In 1729 the plague spread quickly. In 1837, as it rebelled against the Bourbons, it lost its title of chief town (which went to Noto) and got it back in 1865. Currently, Siracusa has added lustre to its name, thanks to Michela Guarnuto, who was born here.
Within the most important monuments we mention the Dome (5th century), the old crypt of St. Marciano, the Castle of Eurialo (5th - 6th century), the castle of Maniace (13th century), the Greek Theatre carved in the rock, the Roman Amphitheatre constructed in Imperial period and Dionysus's Ear, an artificial grotto developed after mining building materials, which appears to be an ear.
Amongst the most illustrious personalities from Siracusa we mention: the excellent mathematician Archimede, the Classical poet Teocrito, Pope Stephen III and the physicist Antonino Lo Surdo, living last century, who identified the radiations emanated by atoms. A legend tells that when the Romans occupied Siracusa, Archimede was so busy with his calculations that he didn't noticed them and was stabbed by a soldier.
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