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Syracuse and Surrounding

Residenza Alfeo

Syracuse and Surrounding

Antico Hotel Roma 1880

Syracuse and Surrounding

Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel

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  • Art and History in Syracuse
    • - Arabic Syracuse

    The Island of Ortigia
    • - The Fonte Aretusa of Syracuse
    • - Judaica. Exploring Jewish Syracuse
      • - Mikva (Ritual Jewish Bath)
    • - The Seaside of Ortigia, in Syracuse
      • - Papyrus Museum of Syracuse
      • - The Maniace Castle
    • - Piazza Archimede (Archimede Square)
      • - The Fountain of Diana
      • - Palazzo Mergulese-Montalto
    • - The Piazza Duomo in Syracuse
      • - Palazzo Senatorio (1633), City Hall
      • - The Artemision of Syracuse
      • - The Duomo (Cathedral of Syracuse / Greek Temple of Athena)
      • - The Archbishop’s Palace
      • - The Hypogeum of Piazza del Duomo in Syracuse
      • - Santa Lucia alla Badia a Siracusa
      • - Palazzo Beneventano dal Bosco
    • - The Galleria Regionale of the Palazzo Bellomo in Syracuse
      • - Church of San Martino
    • - Piazza del Precursore in Syracuse
      • - Casa di Mario Minniti
    • - Santa Maria della Concezione in Syracuse
    • - The Temple of Apollo in Syracuse
    • - Maritime Museum
    • - Shopping in Syracuse
      • - The Ortigia Market

    THE MAINLAND
    • - Euryalus Castle in Syracuse.
    • - The Complex of Saint Lucia.
      • - The Church of Saint Lucia.
      • - Caravaggio, Burial of Saint Lucia.
      • - Catacombs of Saint Lucia in Syracuse.
      • - Chapel of the Tomb of Saint Lucia.
      • - The Tomb of Saint Lucia
    • - "Latomìe": the Ancient Greek Quarries of Syracuse.
      • - L’Orecchio di Dionisio (“The Ear of Dionysius”) in Syracuse.
      • - The Quarries of the Capuchins (Latomie dei Cappuccini) in Syracuse.
    • - The Archaeological Park of Syracuse.
      • - The Roman Amphitheater in Syracuse.
      • - The altar of Hiero II
      • - San Nicolò dei Cordari.
      • - The Greek theatre.
    • - The Archaeological Museum “Paolo Orsi” in Syracuse.
    • - Shrine of the Madonna delle Lacrime (Our Lady of Tears) in Syracuse.
    • - The complex of San Giovanni Evangelista
      • - The Ruins of the Church of San Giovanni Evangelista.
      • - Crypt of San Marziano.
      • - Catacombs of San Giovanni in Syracuse.

    WHAT TO EAT IN SYRACUSE

    With Children in Syracuse
    • - Marine Aquarium
    • - Papyrus Museum in Syracuse
    • - Puppet Lab and Theater in Syracuse
    • - Boat Outing in the Port
    • - Ciane / Anapo Rivers
    • - The Nature Reserve of Vendicari

    Nature and the Sea in Syracuse
    • - Getting around by bike
    • - Fontane Bianche (White Fountains beach)
    • - Ciane / Anapo Rivers
    • - The Nature Reserve of Vendicari
    • - Spiaggia di Calamosche (Calamosche Beach)

    SEASON OF THE GREEK THEATRE IN SYRACUSE

    Surroundings of Syracuse
    • - A Trip to Noto – Sicily's Capital of the Baroque
    • - The Roman Villa of Tellaro (Noto) and its Mosaics

    Tourist Offers
    • - St. Ambrogio and Immacolata Offer
    • - Visit Eastern Sicily Offer
    • - "Visit Syracuse and its Surroundings" Offer
    • - Syracuse and Cinema - "The Sicily of Montalbano and of The Leopard" Offer
    • - Romantic Getaway Offer
    • - "Winter in Sicily is Warm" Offer

    Sports and Recreation in Syracuse
    • - Enjoy yourself and play sports in Syracuse
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Arabic Syracuse

The Byzantine Empire maintained control of Syracuse until the year 878, when Arabian forces conquered it, destroying the city and massacring its people. Arabs continued to dominate the city until the Norman conquest in 1105.


After the destruction of 878, and despite losing its status as the regional capital (Palermo had subsequently taken that title) and being reduced in scope to the single island of Ortigia, Syracuse was rebuilt, this time in the Arabic-infused Moorish style.

Unfortunately, a disastrous earthquake in 1693 reduced Syracuse to a field of rubble. The city was then almost entirely rebuilt with Baroque styling, which erased any trace of the oldest architecture, including Moorish examples. Accordingly, the historical record of this Arabic period is known as a “suspended presence,” its details elusive to all but the experts of Islamic culture and art.

Dr. Laura Giudice, author of a yet unpublished study of Ibn Hamdis and Arabic Syracuse, reiterated this suspended presence of the Arab tradition. Once can find it in the local dialect, riddled with terms of Arabic origin, or in the names of places, such as Marzamemi Donnafugata. It is also tangible in in the local landscape, art and traditional cuisine, with products originally imported by the Arabs, like pistachios, oranges, lemons and eggplants, now featured as “typical.”

Due to the earthquake, along with the Christian Norman efforts to erase all traces of this period, the actual Islamic remains, while present, are difficult to perceive. A Kufic inscription, for example, appears on the Temple of Apollo, which was transformed into a mosque during Arab control. A similar inscription is registered in the Castello Maniace, which is thought to have housed the troops of 13th-century Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. One can also point to some smaller findings, such as pottery and Arabic mosaic fragments, at the Museum Bellomo as well as some decorative motifs on the arched windows of cathedral, which was also converted to a mosque at one point. 

The layout of the streets of Ortigia today, however, follow the “fishbone” design of the Hellenistic Period, especially in the alleys and the ancient courtyards that still bear the imprint of a more Mediterranean, rather than Islamic, influence. Giudice also emphasizes that a trained eye for Arabic art will recognize the Islamic decorative patterns embedded in the Baroque decorations of the late 17th century. Evidently, this Arabic past was passed on through the stonemason’s culture.

These “indirect” traces of the past are seen most frequently in the “Arab Quarter” of Syracuse, that is, those in the neighborhoods of Graziella and Spirduta, which are close to the Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel. 

A testament to this period of Syracuse’s history is the poetry of Abd-al-Jabbar Ibn Hamdis (1056-1133), who lived during the age of the Norman re-conquest, following which he fled the island.

For his entire life Hamdis  sang his regrets for having left Syracuse ,with verses such as these, which have been translated in a poetry anthology of entitled Poeti arabi di Sicilia (Edi.bi.si, Modica 2009, p. 35):

“I remember Sicily and the sadness it rekindles in the memory. A place of youthful follies now deserted yet ignited by the flower of noble minds. If I’ve been trapped in paradise, how would I know? If it was not for the bitterness of tears, I would believe them to be the rivers of this paradise.”

Today Syracuse serve as the seat of the Italo-Arab Cultural Association, which supports cultural events and shows. 

(Thanks to Dr. Laura Giudice for her assistance.)

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Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel ****S

Via Vittorio Veneto, 93
I-96100 Siracusa, Italy
Phone +39 0931 465186
E-mail algila@algila.it

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