Siracusa, (Syracuse), a city rich in history and cultures that collide like a Roman chariot race gone amuck. Today it is a bustling modern work-a-day city of some 125,000 Sicilian souls. Founded by Doric Greeks (Peloponnesian Peninsula) in the 8th century BC it flourished into one of the most powerful and prosperous city-states in the ancient Mediterranean world. During this period it sometime exceeded Athens, Greece in power and population.
Amongst that population perhaps the most important, was the 3rd century BC philosopher, physicist, engineer, inventor and astronomer, Archimedes. We remember him most for his discovery of the principle of buoyancy which led to his famous exclamation “Eureka”. It is said he delivered this information to the people of Siracusa as he excitedly ran through the town sans toga.
Fast forward a few years and along came the Romans, like that annoying neighbor who always shows up uninvited. But, they did have a knack for building stuff. Nothing lasts forever and eventually the Romans were replaced by North Africans, Normans, Spaniards, Byzantines, Ottomans, and a little anarchy. The newest set of invaders are the endless stream of tourists who come to see the history, the mixture of cultures, the seafood, and granita and gelato to die for.
Today the four of us joined that invasion. Driving to the small island of Ortigia, the beating heart of Syracusa, we enjoyed viewing the temples of Apollo and Athena (converted to a church by the Byzantines in the 7th century AD). We walked the labyrinth of cobblestone streets, appreciated the craftsmanship on display in the many shops and ended the adventure with a stop at a seaside café and a gelato/granita shop. The weather was ideal, the fellowship was “perfecto”, and the food, of course, was great, … we were in Sicily.
I believe we all had a great day on this triangular island.
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