Syracuse Cathedral is one of the most extraordinary places in Sicily: a baroque cathedral built inside a 5th-century BC Greek temple, whose Doric columns are still perfectly visible, embedded in the walls.
The temple dedicated to Athena was built after the victory of Himera in 480 BC, when Syracuse was one of the most powerful cities in the Mediterranean. In the 7th century AD the temple became a Christian church: the Doric columns were not demolished but walled in, and today you can still touch them as you walk along the side aisle.
The baroque facade you see today was completed in 1754 to a design by Andrea Palma, after the 1693 earthquake destroyed the previous Norman front. The result is a building unique in the world, where 2,500 years of history live in the same stone.
Inside you will find the chapel of Saint Lucy, the city's patron saint, and a baptismal font made from a Greek krater. Since 2005 the cathedral has been part of the UNESCO site "Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica".
Practical tips
- Walk along the outside left flank on Via Minerva: it is the best spot to see the Greek columns embedded in the wall.
- Visit early in the morning or at sunset, when the limestone facade glows golden.
- Entrance ticket required (a few euros); appropriate dress requested.
