Overview
Once upon a time there was a tyrant, several prisoners and a cave. Thus begins the story of the Ear of Dionysus, an artificial S-shaped cavity, 65 metres long and 23 metres high. What is now one of the key stops on the tour of the Neapolis Archaeological Park in Syracuse was nothing but a place of confinement excavated in the Latomia del Paradiso, an immense stone quarry, mostly covered and underground.
Legend has it that the tyrant Dionysius used to lock up political prisoners here to eavesdrop on their speeches from a cavity in the upper part of the cave, thus exploiting its considerable acoustic amplification capabilities. The tunnel's resemblance to the sinuous silhouette of the human ear was first noticed by Caravaggio.
Proceed your visit to Neapolis by taking a few minutes to sit on the steps of the Greek Theatre, the largest monument of theatrical architecture that has come down to us. Attending one of the classical plays on the calendar is a privilege that will take you on an unforgettable journey through the centuries.
If you are in Syracuse on the first Sunday in May, you can attend the Feast of the Patronage of Saint Lucy, who in May 1646, at the height of the famine, performed the miracle of bringing ships laden with grain and food into the city's port.
