Syracuse and the rocky necropolis of Pantalica
The site consists of two separate elements,
containing outstanding vestiges dating back to Greek and Roman times: The
Necropolis of Pantalica contains over 5,000 tombs cut into the rock near open
stone quarries, most of them dating from the 13th to 7th century B.C. Vestiges
of the Byzantine era also remain in the area, notably the foundations of the
Anaktoron (Prince's Palace). The other part of the property, Ancient Syracuse,
includes the nucleus of the city’s foundation as Ortygia by Greeks from Corinth
in the 8th century B.C. The site of the city, which Cicero described as
"the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of all", retains
vestiges such as the Temple of Athena (5th century B.C., later transformed to
serve as a cathedral), a Greek theatre, a Roman amphitheatre, a fort and more.
Many remains bear witness to the troubled history of Sicily, from the
Byzantines to the Bourbons, with, in between, the Arabo-Muslims, the Normans,
Frederick II (Hohenstaufen, 1197 to 1250 A.D.), the Aragons and the Kingdom of
the Two Sicilies. Historic Syracuse offers a unique testimony to the
development of Mediterranean civilization over three millennia.