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The Altar of Hiero II in Syracuse.
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The altar (or ara) of Hiero (or Hieron) II, was built by the "tyrant" (Greek king) Hiero II of Syracuse (who reigned from 269 to 216 B.C.) in the third century before Christ.
This is the largest surviving altar of Greek antiquity; in fact, it is a little
longer than a stadion (corresponding to 192 meters / 630 feet) and 23 meters / 75.5 feet wide.
Originally it was surrounded by porticos; in Roman times a garden of trees was
planted in the courtyard. |
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On this huge altar it was possible to celebrate grandiose religious ceremonies,
with the sacrifice of up to 450 bulls in a single day. This was one way to propitiate
the gods but also to remind friends and enemies that Syracuse had plenty of resources
and subjects...
Unfortunately, only the base of this huge structure remains, carved into the
rock that rises from the ground to save the excavation of the foundations. Everything
else (i.e., the walls of square blocks, columns, access ramps, statues) was demolished
by the Spanish, who in the 16th century plundered the ancient Greek and Roman monuments in
order to obtain stone to build the fortifications of Ortigia. |
The Altar of Hiero II in Syracuse.
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| It is left to the imagination to picture, based on the surviving “floor,” the
grandeur of this building (the reconstruction of the (wider) Pergamon Altar, now in Berlin, can give an enlarged idea of it). |
How to Reach the Altar of Hiero II from the Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel.
The Altar of Hiero II is part of the Archaeological Park of Syracuse, which is located off the island of Ortigia and more precisely at the extreme north of the ancient city (Neapolis). A route
by foot is possible, but it will exceed one kilometer / 0.62 miles in distance.
Those who do not have their own transportation can call a taxi from the reception
desk at a special rate or use the bicycles that the Hotel Algilà offers to its guests for free.
Alternatively, one can take the (free) shuttle bus #20 from the nearby Piazza Archimede up to the bus station (near the train station) and then take either one of the
following bus lines: 6, 8, 11, 12 or 13.
Otherwise, from Riva Nazario Sauro (behind the nearby Piazza delle Poste) one
can choose from the following bus lines 1, 2, 3, 4 or 12.
Another view of the Altar of Hiero II in Syracuse.
Visitor Information
Like all of the monuments in the Archeological Park, the Altar also suffers from
staff shortages, which in turn require closing parts of the museum area. For this
reason, the entrance to the enclosure that surrounds the altar may not be permitted.
However, the park’s road (paved) passes close to the monument and allows an excellent
view from above.
All of the sights within the Archaeological Park can be visited with a single
ticket of entry (full price € 6, with reduced-priced tickets available for those
aged 18 to 25 years and free entry for citizens of the European Union under 18
or over 65). Remember not to throw away the ticket to go from one area to another.
Admission is free for people with disabilities and for those who accompany them.
The park is open every day, including holidays, from 9:00 a.m. until two hours
before sunset.
Back to TOURISM IN SYRACUSE, SICILY
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