The Tomb of Saint Lucia is presented today framed by a fanciful Baroque wooden architectural mantle. In front, under the one altar of the chapel, one can admire sculptor Gregorio Tedeschi’s 1634 rendering of the martyr,  encased behind glass.

The tomb (within the niche) is empty today. The relics contained in it were in fact removed by the Byzantine general George Maniakes during his short-lived  liberation of Syracuse from the Arabs in 1040 (it lasted only until 1043). Maniace took possession of the reliquary and sent it as a gift to the empress in Constantinople, from which it would never be returned. In fact, the Venetians sacked the Byzantine capital during the Fourth Crusade in 1204, took possession of it themselves, and brought it to their own city, where one can find it still today (in the Church of Saints Geremia and Lucia), despite efforts by Syracusans for restitution. A few bones, preserved in the Chapel of Saint Lucia in theDuomo, is all that remains of the saint today in the city. 

The Piazza Duomo is just a few hundred meters from the Hotel Algilà.

It is therefore advisable to make the journey on foot through the streets of Baroque Syracuse. The Hotel Roma is situates directly on the Piazza Duomo, thus it is only a couple minutes walk to the Church of Santa Lucia.

Visitor Information.

The church is open and offers free admission from Tuesday to Sunday between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.; the church is closed Mondays. There is a climb of five stairs to enter the church.
The church is under the control of the Curia of the Archbishop of Syracuse; for more information you may call the Curia offices at: 0931 65328.