Here we can see the remains of one of the oldest Doric temple of Magna Graecia available to us, the Temple of Apollo, dating back to the 6th century B.C. The temple underwent several transformations: closed during the persecution of pagans in the late Roman Empire, it was a Byzantine church, and then an Islamic mosque during the Emirate of Sicily. Later it was restored to its previous purpose, becoming the Norman Church of the Saviour, which was then incorporated into a 16th-century Spanish barracks and into private houses, though some architectural elements remained visible . In 1860, however, preliminary evidence of the ancient temple was found hiding in what was then the barracks, and between 1938 and 1942 the remains of the temple were freed from the modern additions and at last excavated by Paolo Orsi and his crew
THE TEMPLE OF APOLLO:
The great Greek Temple of Athena was built here in the 5th century BC, the present cathedral was constructed by Saint Bishop Zosimo of Syracuse in the 7th century, and the battered Doric columns of the original temple were incorporated in the walls of the current church. The building was converted into a mosque in 878, then converted back when Norman Roger I of Sicily retook the city in 1085. A few hundred years later, in 1693, Sicily was shaken by a terrible earthquake and the cathedral was damaged and the facade redesigned by architect Andrea Palma between 1725 and 1753. However, the origins of a temple on this site date back to prehistory.
IL DUOMO DI SIRACUSA:
The god Alphaeus, son of Ocean, fell in love with Arethūsa by spying on her while she was taking a bath naked. Arethūsa however avoided Alphaeus attentions by escaping on the island of Ortigia, in Siracusa, asking for help from the goddess Artemis who turned her into a water spring. Zeus, moved by the pain of Alphaeus, turned him as well into a river, allowing him to travel from the Peloponnese, in Greece, all over the Ionian Sea to join the beloved source in the turquoise waters of Ortigia.
SOME GREEK HISTORY:
The fountain highlights the figure of Diana with her bow and dog, the attributes of the goddess of hunting, patroness of Ortigia in the Greek era. At his feet we find Arethusa and Alfeo and in a second order, inside the tank there are four Tritons who ride two sea horses and two pistricis soaring on the waves.
FONTANA DI DIANA:
The fountain of Diana was built by Giulio Moschetti, in collaboration with his son Mario, after the excellent result obtained with the creation of the Proserpina fountain in Catania a couple of years earlier. In 1906 the city council commissioned them the new fountain after the presentation of the preparatory sketch and it will take ten months to finish it. Mostly built in reinforced concrete the entire project costed 19,000 lira’s at the time. (Less then today’s 10€)
BACK IN THE DAY:
Reading more documents about the fascinating life of Archimedes while standing in his hometown and in the square dedicated to his name. What a better way to get inspired? If you don’t know much about him, or anything about his works, give him a chance and start learning something new from one of the most fascinating thinkers the world has ever known. Your own brain will thank you for it and your life could change a bit after gathering a new prospective on things.
PIAZZA ARCHIMEDE:
Nothing feels like Sicily. No matter how good you describe it no one will ever be able to properly picture the feeling of this magical island. I grew up in such a unique city like Roma, lived in NYC for years, know every corner in París, explored all London zones and strolled thru the streets of Tokyo, but non of those beautiful destinations have a single drop of that Sicilian magic. I don’t know what it is but here everything feels different, even those things that you thought you knew from the inside out.
UNIQUE VIBES:
THE SICILIAN ATMOSPHERE:
“I saw for the first time the grandiose landscape of Syracuse at the moment when the sun was about to set, illuminating the whole district from the Ionian sea to the mountains of Ibla, with those warm colors, which can only be seen under the Sicilian sky. I could not express in words the impression that such a view produced on me. Not even on the top of Etna, from where the whole island, three seas, the coasts of Italy can be seen, I did not feel shaken as in seeing between the deep silence of a beautiful evening, these wide and dead fields of Syracuse . The spectacles of nature speak less to the soul than history; they have no memories, and man lives only memories.” - Ferdinand Gregorovius
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ORTIGIA’S NEIGHBOURHOOD:
Street photography session in Siracusa, Sicilia. Enjoying the local vibe while embracing local proverbs & saying: Cu nesci arrinesci “who leaves (their own comfort zone) succeeds”. What’s going on in your day folks?
Street photography session in the little market of Ortigia. Starting the day with some lovely local food, like my usual octopus breakfast, while dipping my soul into this shouting and smelly little paradise. I can’t believe that most of this type of animated & genuine markets are become very rare here in Italy, thankfully the south never disappoints tho.
THE LOCLAS TESTES AND SMELLS
Street photography session in the little market of Ortigia, part two. This time I’m doing little sketches of this lovely place, while also taking tons of reference images for the watercolors. What are yo up to folks?
LOCAL MARKETS:
Street photography adventure in the old streets of Ortigia. Today’s mission is to catch some good street shots while also taking a lot of reference pictures for my watercolors. Multimedia adventures as always! What are you up to folks?
LET’S EXPLORE SIRACUSA:
Street photography session thru the historic part of Siracusa, called Ortigia, an island connected to the mainland by three bridges. On the other side of those bridges is were the modern city of Siracusa has developed.
WALKING IN ORTIGIA:
Siracusa was founded by Ancient Greek Corinthians and Teneans around 733 BC and became soon one of the major powers of the Mediterranean world. Nowadays the city is still notable for its rich Greek history & architecture, and known as the birth place of the legendary mathematician & engineer Archimedes.
A GREEK CITY :
Adding a new destination to my multimedia diary, welcome to Siracusa strangers! Do you have any suggestions or requests about this lovely place? Let’s go get lost.
THE FIRST IMPRESSION:
A RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE SUN:
Sunbathing is a traditional daily activity for most of the people here in the south of Italy, but my body and my brain can’t stand it for more than three minutes, even considering that the sun is my god. Italian dna with mermen blood.