WHL

Criteria for including Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica in the WHL

The sites and monuments of Syracuse/Pantalica form a “whole” that constitutes a unique collection and extraordinary testimony of Mediterranean cultures throughout the centuries and in the same space. The Syracuse/Pantalica group also offers, through its cultural diversity, an exceptional testimony to the development of civilisation over 3 millennia.
The extraordinary cultural traditions that developed in these places profoundly influenced the subsequent civilisations in the area, radiating throughout the Mediterranean, and represent a model on which the entire civilisation of the Western world has been based and evolved to the present day.
The group of monuments and archaeological sites situated in Syracuse (between the nucleus of Ortygia and the vestiges located throughout the urban area) is the finest example of architectural creation encompassing several cultural influences (Greek, Roman, medieval and Baroque).
The stratification in the territory of all the cultures in the Mediterranean since prehistoric times represents a significant example of the integration of cultures, styles and building techniques from different eras which, also by virtue of their exceptional degree of preservation, represent an extraordinary documentary basis for the analysis and historical and scientific discovery of the systems and building techniques from different eras and civilisations. Ancient Syracuse was directly linked to events, ideas and literary works of universal importance.
The poems, plays and literary works that were composed and performed in Syracuse were great in number and of outstanding and universal value and still form part of the cultural heritage shared by all Western civilisation today.
The cultural, architectural and artistic stratification evident in the Syracuse/Pantalica ensemble bears exceptional testimony to the history and cultural diversity of the Syracuse region over three millennia from the ancient Greek period to the Baroque.

Criteria for inscription in the WHL
Criterion (II): The ensemble of sites and monuments in Syracuse/Pantalica constitutes a remarkable testimony of the Mediterranean cultures over the centuries.
Criterion (III): The Syracuse/Pantalica ensemble offers, through its remarkable cultural diversity, an exceptional testimony to the development of civilisations over three millennia.
Criterion (IV): The group of monuments and archaeological sites situated in Syracuse (between the nucleus of Ortygia and the vestiges located throughout the urban area) is the finest example of outstanding architectural creation encompassing several cultural influences (Greek, Roman and Baroque).
Criterion (VI): Ancient Syracuse was directly linked to events, ideas and literary works of outstanding universal significance.

Pantalica and the earth element

The Church of San Giovanni alle Catacombe

Inside the Cathedral of Ortygia

Nature in Neapolis

The Cathedral of Syracuse

Where seas and civilisations meet

The cultural significance of tragedy

Pantalica and fire. The Metal Age: objects from the culture of Pantalica

Ortygia

Temple of Apollo

The architecture of the Piazza

Ortygia and water. The Fountain of Arethusa

The Spanish fortification

Neapolis from past to present

Neapolis and the earth element. Places of performance: the Greek theatre and the Roman amphitheatre

Neapolis and the water element. The Nymphaeum

The interior of the Cathedral of Syracuse

Neapolis and the air element. The Ear of Dionysius

A journey to Pantalica

Pantalica: where nature and history merge

The Altar of Hieron II: Blood and fire place

The Greek Theatre of Syracuse

The Athenaion of the tyrant Gelon

Criteria for including Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica in the WHL

The Cathedral of Syracuse

The Venationes

The Roman Amphitheatre

Neapolis and fire. The Altar of Hieron and the sacrificial fire

The catacombs of San Giovanni

Giudecca and the earth element. Between gardens and artisan workshops

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

The Museion and the Grotta del Ninfeo

Pantalica and water: the Myth of the Anapo River

Giudecca and air. The Basilica of San Giovannello

Ortygia and the earth element. Piazza del Duomo: discovering the origins.

The Ear of Dionysius and the Grotta dei Cordari

The fountain of Diana in Piazza Archimede

Legends and magic echoes in the Latomie of Syracuse

Giudecca and fire. Cooking and the Jewish religion

Byzantine Pantalica

The Euryalus Fortress

The Culture of Pantalica

The Senatorial Palace

Crypt of San Marciano

Pantalica and air. The skies of Pantalica: from hawks to bats

The Jews, a wandering people

Giudecca, the hidden Jewish heart of Syracuse

The functions of Castello Maniace

Traces of Christianity in Syracuse

Castello Maniace

The Church of St. Lucia to the Abbey

Ortygia. Venus rising from the waters of the port

Syracuse during the tyranny of Dionysius

The Neapolis

Giudecca

Piazza del Duomo, a sacred place of the ancient Greeks

Giudecca and water. The ritual baths: the Casa Bianca mikveh

Ortygia and fire. Archimedes and the invention of the burning mirrors

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

The Gladiator performances

Ortygia and the air element. The Gods of Olympus and the Temple of Apollo.

The naumachiae: naval battles at the theatre

The Dionysian Walls: a masterpiece of Greek engineering