Grande Albergo Maugeri. Siracusa & Pantalica

SIRACUSA

Syracuse, the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all, is UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica.
Visit its archaeological park, the most important in Magna Grecia (Greater Greece).
The Greek Theatre, dated back to the 5th century BC, has been housing the annual Classical Plays of INDA (National Institute for Ancient Drama) since 1914.
The Latomie of Paradise, stone quarries, also used as prisons in ancient times, such as "Dionysius' Ear" and "Cordari's Cave".
The Roman Amphitheatre, one of the biggest in Italy, was usually used for gladiators' fighting, circus show and sea-fight.
Hiero's Ara, nowadays only remains, was built in around 250 BC to celebrate animal public sacrifices.

Visit also the Madonna delle Lacrime Shrine, built after the watering of the Madonna's painting in 1953. the plan with its circularity represents all of humanity, that little by little, thanks to the rising columns and the increasing light intensity, reaches up to God.
The historical centre of Syracuse lies on the little island called Ortigia (Ortygia) where you can visit its gorgeous Cathedral square, the Baroque buildings and the Arethuse Fountain, where the tradition houses the mythological history of Aretusa and Alfeo.

EVENTS
In May-June "Classical Plays" in the Greek Theatre
In September "International Festival of Ballet and Music"

PANTALICA

Pantalica is one of the biggest protohistoric centres of Sicily, developed between the 13th and the 8th centuries BC. Today you can see the remains of a little shrine, the royal palace and the necropolis made up of about 5000 tombs that give the view a disturbing and unforgettable atmosphere. You find what the tombs contained in the Regional Archaeological Museum of Syracuse.

EVENTS
Pantalica Trophy, an international cycling race.