THE ISLAND OF ORTIGIA
|THE ISLAND OF ORTIGIA| Arethusa Fountain| Judaica. Exploring Jewish Siracuse| The Seaside| Piazza Archimede| Piazza Duomo| Palazzo Bellomo| St. John the Evangelist| Santa Maria della Concezione| The Temple of Apollo|
Piazza Archimede in Syracuse.
The piazza, the “elegant living room” of Ortigia, was opened in 1878, and has
a thoroughly modern appearance.
It was dedicated to one Syracuse’s most illustrious sons, the Greek Archimedes (ca. 287-212 B.C.), one of the greatest geniuses in the history of mathematics
and physics.
In the immediate surroundings, bars and renowned pastry shops allow one to have
a break-aperitif between one art tour and another or while waiting for mealtimes.
The Fountain of Diana.
At the center of the piazza is the Fountain of Diana by Giulio Moschetti (1906), dedicated to the myth of the nymph Arethusa, transformed by the goddess Diana into a spring to escape the amorous persecution of Alpheus, who in the group peeps heartbroken from behind the goddess.
The nymph is represented, nude, while about to slip into the water below with
which she will blend, while all around Tritons and Nereids prance about on seahorses.
Palazzo Mergulese-Montalto.
At the end of a very short street that opens onto Piazza Archimede, it is worth
seeing the beautiful gothic façade of the Palazzo Mergulese-Montalto, from 1397, fresh from a restoration that saved it from a terrible fate and
returned it to its elegant and original white appearance.
At the front of the palace an archeological excavation outside has brought to
light several remains of ancient walls.
How to reach Piazza Archimede from the Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel.
One finds Piazza Archimede a few hundred meters from the Hotel Algilà.
Therefore, the most practical way to reach it is with a short stroll on foot.
There are no significant architectural barriers along the way.
Back to TOURISM IN SYRACUSE, SICILY
|
|
|
Home
Contacts
