Siracusa

Siracusa

This weekend we took a trip to Siracusa, which is all the way across Sicily from where Palermo is.  It only took about a three hour bus ride to get there.  It was so hot, and I definitely got a little red while I was there.  It was totally worth it though, because the city was gorgeous.

Arriving in the hostel

We got there on friday after a three hour bus ride. We walked to Ortigia, which is an island that is literally right off the coast of Siracusa.  On Ortigia is the Cathedral and other ancient Roman and Greek structures.

Temple of Apollo

Temple of Apollo 

Artemis Diana and Arethusa

The Cathedral

Church of St. Lucia

Arethusa and Alphaeus

Sunset on Ortigia

Another thing I enjoyed about Ortigia was the GLUTEN FREE PIZZA!!! This is the first time I saw it so I got really excited.  The first one had really fluffy crust, which I have missed so much.

Proscuitto and Mushrooms

Sausage, Spinach, and Buffalo Mozzarella

Back in 1953, there was a plaque of Mary in Siracusa that cried for five days.  They did all these tests on the plaque and the tears and they could find no reservoir holding any liquid and the composition of the tears was identical to that of human tears.  They built a huge shrine for it that resembles a tear drop.

Madonna Delle Lacrime Shrine

Ceiling inside

Madonna Delle Lacrime

After we saw the Shrine, we walked over to the Archeological Park.  Here, there is an ancient Greek Theatre, a Roman Amphitheatre, an alter for animal sacrifices, and the Dionysus Ear.  Every May, they put on play performances in the Greek Theatre, so unfortunately we couldn't see the whole thing as there were bleachers and a stage set up.  The Dionysus Ear was very cool though.  It is shaped like an ear canal, so if  someone whispers something in the very back of the cave, you can hear what they are saying outside.  Legend says that Dionysus would put his prisoners inside this cave so that he could hear what they were saying.

Greek Theatre 

Dionysus Ear

Dionysus Ear