Syracuse is a a popular city on the southeast coast of Sicily. In 8th BC, Greeks landed on a nearby island called Ortigia. It is the historical part of Syracuse. Ortigia means quail in Greek.
People from mountainous regions arrived looking for land to cultivate. They found that this was a good place for making cheese and producing good wine. These products were exported to mainland Greece.
People had heard of Sicily because of Homer’s Odyssey. Sicily is where Ulysses met the Cyclops.
In 1693, there was a devastating earthquake in which many buildings were destroyed and 50,000 people died. Everything had to be built from scratch.
The Reformation had split off from the Catholic Church. They were trying to get their parishioners back. They had lost power and money. So the Catholics contracted great artists such as Caravaggio and Michelangelo and they went on a building spree.
The Catholics wanted to impress people and constructed many large cathedrals with beautiful interiors. The ornate golden interiors were to show the Protestants that the Catholics were more favored by God. The churches were so numerous that they were even across from each other. It kind of reminds me of the “prosperity gospel” that some of the protestant megachurches of today which is NOT the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:6-7 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
Priests were linked with nobles. The firstborn son inherited the land in the feudal system of nobility that was based on agriculture.
After the reunification of Italy, churches were stripped and became schools.
Greeks were friends of the Egyptians so they had the technology of erecting large stones.
Along the right hand side of the fountain runs the street that Archimedes yelled his famous quote “Eureka!” He jumped out of his bath to tell the king that he discovered that the displacement of water could determine whether his crown was made of pure gold!! (Archimedes also determined the value of pi.)
When Syracuse was attacked by the Romans, Archimedes focused a magnifying glass on the Roman ships to set them on fire. Some have questioned if this is true, but is fun to consider.
Patron saints in Sicily are often women. Mamas are revered in his patriarchal society. The fertile Mount Etna is called Big Mama.
Another fact about Santa Lucia: She was beheaded in December on one of the longest nights. The Church of Santa Lucia was then built on the site.. Her sacrifice was said to bring light in the darkness. She is the patron saint of the blind and other eye afflictions.
Caravaggio’s name was not originally Caravaggio. It was adopted from the town from which he came. He was known as a master of the light. He was the first to use live models. His style and techniques had a big influence and changed art. There are twelve of his paintings in the Ufizzi Gallery in Florence.
Silician Puppet Theatre
We went to a puppet show which is like opera for poor people. There were good guys and bad guys in this story of the knights of Charlemagne in 800 AD.
Macallè Silician Bistrot
This restaurant was recommended by our guide, Andrea. It is listed in the Michelin guide book. The chef was very hands on so it was like a gourmet dinner and a first class show.
Leave a Reply