According to Greek mythology, the first pomegranate was born from the drops of Dionysus' blood, the god of wine. It is said that the god, who was still a child, was kidnapped by the Titans at the behest of the goddess Hera, who sought revenge for the continued infidelity of her husband, Zeus. Dion...

Attributed to the worship of Mother Earth, this fruit was a symbol of fertility. In fact, among the people of the Mediterranean there has been a custom for young girls to eat pomegranate immediately after marriage since ancient times because of its vital power. According to a Greek myth, the first...

The style of Baroque civic architecture is distinguished from religious architecture by the simplicity of the shapes of the buildings. The best known elements are the large corbels that support the balconies and at the same time add movement to the façades. It is here that the engravers gave free...

Part of the entertainment of the symposia held in Syracuse was the game kottabos, which essentially consisted in throwing the sediment of wine left in a cup at a target. This object was placed in the centre of a bronze pole around two metres high called a kottabos, which is where the game took its ...

The Grand Tour was a long trip undertaken by young European aristocracy, starting in the 17th century, with the aim of enriching their knowledge. It could last a few months or several years and usually included Italy as a destination. During the Enlightenment, in contrast to the sumptuousness expre...

The oven and the well were two elements always found in a synagogue. The unleavened bread was baked in the synagogue's oven under the watchful eye and control of the rabbi to ensure that no leavened food was used. The structure was similar to that of an Egyptian oven, cylindrical and small in size...

The celebrations for the city's patron saint are a joyful event for young and old people alike. On 13th December, St. Lucy's Day, there is a procession. The statue of the Saint is carried on the worshippers' shoulders throughout the city, amidst fireworks, shouting and applause. Everyone shouts in ...

The celebrations for the city's patron saint are preceded by thirteen days of preparation, including prayers and religious activities. The feast officially begins five days before the 13th of December, St. Lucy's Day, starting with the opening of the niche that houses the simulacrum, kept in the ch...

Artemis, twin sister of the god Apollo, is the deity of wild nature, hunting and animals. This figure was very dear to the people of Syracuse. A large temple called Artemision was dedicated to Artemis. The remains of the temple can be found today under the Town Hall....

In Christian liturgical furnishings, the ciborium is an architectural structure in the shape of a canopy placed on the altar and consists of vertical elements, usually four columns, which support a flat or vaulted roof. This furniture is generally intended to house the pyx, a liturgical object cont...