The immense Greek theater admired today in Syracuse (the largest in the Greek world of the Western Mediterranean) is actually only part of the
building founded in the 5th century B.C. and rebuilt by Hieron IIin the 3rd century B.C.
The bases of some of the first-row seats are still marked with the names and
seat numbers of King Hieron IIand members of his family.
Today what remains is, in fact, only the lower part, which was dug directly into
the rock, while all the rest was built of stone blocks and colored marble (such
as the top row of seats, the covered portico that runs along the top, and the
stage) and dismantled by the Spanish in the 16th century to build the fortifications of the island of Ortigia.
But even so, the remains are still of an impressive grandeur, measuring 140 meters
/ 459 feet in diameter and containing 67 rows of seats.
The space was used not only for the theater, but also for public meetings.
Scholars do not agree on whether, in Roman times and before the construction
of the Arena, it was also used to present fights between gladiators and animals.
The structure was built at the height of the "classic" era of ancient Greek theater,
and none other than Aeschylus presented here in the 470s BC The Women of Aetna (now lost) and The Persians.
Tourists can admire the lower area of the orchestra and of the skene, of which relatively little remains and is now partly occupied by a beautiful
Mediterranean garden; the large middle part of the theatron (the rows of seats), which, despite everything, is still in a good state of
preservation; and finally the top part, once occupied by a covered portico.
As mentioned previously, the theater has lost its upper rows of seats, which
were removed in the 16th century.
Still remaining are the theater’s good acoustics, for which ancient theaters
- built in an era when there were no amplifiers - are famous.
Mulini ad acqua.
Preserved at the upper part of the theater is the central structure (without
blades) of one of the mills that were constructed in the 16th century, when the
fountains of the Greek era (that of the Grotto of the Nymph) were reactivated, by exploiting the theater’s sloped construction.
The excavation of drainage channels and of a road to lead wagons to the mills
inflicted further damage to the structure, which can still be seen.
The "little house" that stands out in this picture is the last of the watermills
that once exploited the spring of the Grotto of the Nymph.
Above the Theater
On the rock wall that supported the upper portico (which ran along the edge of
the theater) graves were excavated in an arcosolium style during the Byzantine era. From them the road that runs along the terrace once occupied by the portico
has taken the name “Via dei sepolcri” ("Street of the Tombs”).
From among all of these tombs, after centuries of plundering, only the cavity
remains today, completely bare and in more than one case bizarrely eroded by centuries
of severe weather.
One of the most romantic points of this rock wall is the so-called "Grotto of the Nymph", an artificial cavity carved into the wall at the center of the space that
was once occupied by the covered portico.
Here a waterfall flows, which in ancient times was surrounded by ancient statues
of the Muses. This was a reference to the mythical "Fountain of the Muses", which according to legend turned those who drank its water into poets.
It is no coincidence that the “Mouseion” (that is the shrine of the Muses) was here the home of the actors guild.
The water channel (Galermi aqueduct) dates back to the Greek era and was restored in the middle of the 16th century to start the watermills.
Today, of course, the ancient fountain returns to being just a decorative element.
The so-called "Grotto of the Nymph,” a fountain that is more than 2,000 years
old.
Along the cliff one notices a long series of square niches (naiskoi), which are all that remain of the "pinakes” (squares) containing religious images, which in Greek times were used for the
worship of heroes (something resembling our concept of the "cult of the saints").
The images were usually painted, but could also be made of wood or clay, cemented
to the base of the naiskoi.
They were, in essence, sort of small religious “altars”, of which only the niches
cut into the rock now remain.
The road that runs along the rock wall eventually proceeds, with a Cyclopean
cut in the rock studded with naiskoi, outward.
There one can still see the tracks carved into the stone road by wagons over
the centuries.
Cycle of performances of classical theater at the Greek Theater in Syracuse. Since 1914, the Greek theater in Syracuse has been home to a Spring festival
of classical Greek plays.
See the dedicated page for more information.
How to Reach the Greek Theater from the Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel. The Greek theater belongs to 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.
Visitor Information. 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.
Note: During the period in which the cycle of performances of classical theater is presented (May/June), the lower part of the theatron and the skene of the Greek Theater are not accessible.
The park is open every day, including holidays, from 9:00 a.m. until two hours
before sunset.
Because of the enormous quantity of sights worth visiting in the Archeological
Park and the extensive size of the area, one should plan to spend at least an hour and a half for a leisurely visit.
The area is organized in such a way as to be accessible from a convenient road,
which is easy to follow even for those who have difficulty walking, but there
is not a complete absence of architectural barriers given that some areas are
accessible only by stairs.
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