The Neapolis

The senses tell the Roman Amphitheater

taste
The gladiatoria sagina, the gladiators’ diet

Within the familiae managed by “ludisti”, the gladiators followed the gladiatoria sagina: a satisfactory diet, evidently aimed at improving their physical performance.
This diet included many plants such as legumes, grains, onions, garlic, fennel seeds, fruit and dried figs, and was poor in meat but rich in dairy products, oil, honey and watered-down wine.
The evening before the arena battles, the gladiators took part in a rich banquet, a free dinner, which could even be attended by the most avid “fans”.
During this meal, to gain energy, gladiators usually ate spiced barley flat breads sprinkled with honey and drank fenugreek infusions with strengthening properties.

hearing
Gladiator shows with horns, tubas and lutes

In Roman times music played an important role in circus games, gladiator ludi and battles.
Often the performances in the Roman Amphitheatre began with a procession enlivened by wind instruments such as the horn and the organ, specifically the hydraulis, the water organ.
The fights began with encouragement from the audience, shouting, claps and chanting, like modern fans, while percussion instruments such as drums distinctly marked the rhythm in moments of particular tension during the fights.

Castello Maniace

Inside the Cathedral of Ortygia

King Hyblon’s kingdom: Pantalica, between history and legend

Syracuse during the tyranny of Dionysius

The architecture of the Piazza

Byzantine Pantalica

Legends and magic echoes in the Latomie of Syracuse

Roman Syracuse, a military power thanks to the genius of Archimedes

The Roman Amphitheatre

The Senatorial Palace

The Jews, a wandering people

The cultural significance of tragedy

The Euryalus Fortress

The Church of San Giovanni alle Catacombe

The Dionysian Walls: a masterpiece of Greek engineering

Ortygia. Venus rising from the waters of the port

Temple of Apollo

The Gladiator performances

Where seas and civilisations meet

Neapolis from past to present

The Venationes

The Culture of Pantalica

Traces of Christianity in Syracuse

The Church of St. Lucia to the Abbey

The Athenaion of the tyrant Gelon

The Cathedral of Syracuse

The Ear of Dionysius and the Grotta dei Cordari

The Altar of Hieron II: Blood and fire place

Pantalica: where nature and history merge

The functions of Castello Maniace

The Spanish fortification

The catacombs of San Giovanni

Crypt of San Marciano

Giudecca, the hidden Jewish heart of Syracuse

The Greek Theatre of Syracuse

The Museion and the Grotta del Ninfeo

Piazza del Duomo, a sacred place of the ancient Greeks