ARCHEOLOGICAL PARK OF THE NEAPOLIS

It is the most representative area of the ancient Greek city. It can be reached from the Paolo Orsi Avenue, which is traced on the ancient Roman road. The park covers 240,000 square metres on the Temerite hill. Pleasant to walk through, it is shaded and flowered with laurels, fig trees and other agave trees..

Roman Amphitheatre: Almost completely dug into the rock, it is immense. The ellipse (140 m long and 119 m wide) is surrounded by a tribune, behind which there is a promenade and entrances for gladiators and beasts. It was built between the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D. There are still two entrances, one to the south and one to the north. The southern entrance is connected to the centre of the arena by a moat. At the time, equipment was stored there to create effects during performances. On the side, you can see a Roman basin that was used to fill the arena with water to wash the arena after the passage of the beasts and gladiators.

Altar of Hieronymus II: This is the largest altar from the Greek period that has come down to us (198 m long, 23 m wide, 14 m high). It was built under Hieronymus II and dedicated to Zeus the Liberator. It was used for the sacrifice of animals to honour the god.

Church of San Nicolo: It is located at the exit of the park. It dates back to the 11th century and was built over a Roman pool that was used to feed the amphitheatre. For the time being closed to the public, the church only has its portal with the coat of arms of the guild of tailors, which financed its restoration in 1907. The church is well worth a little look as you leave the park.

Grotte des Cordiers: This cave was used to store hemp ropes. The high humidity in the cave increased the strength of the ropes. You can't visit it but simply admire it from the outside.

Orecchio di Dionisio: The impressive latomies of Paradise, the famous limestone quarries, very vast, 65 m deep and 23 m high, were named so by the painter Caravaggio because of their particular shapes: if you look at the entrance with a little distance, it really looks like the ear of a faun! This shape gives the cave an exceptional acoustic effect that amplifies even the slightest sound. It is said that the tyrant Denys used to stand at the top of the cave to surprise the prisoners' conversations. You may come across a group of tourists who are likely to sing a song in the cave... The echo is impressive. The ceiling is crossed by the mark of an old water pipe.

Greek Theatre: Located to the left of the park entrance, it is one of the most grandiose examples of the theatrical structure of the Greek world. Dug into the rock, it has a diameter of about 140 m and could hold up to 20,000 people spread over 67 rows of bleachers. Dating back to the^5th century BC, it was inaugurated with the tragedy The Persians of Aeschylus in 470 BC. It was reworked in the 3rd century BC by Hieronymus II and underwent successive alterations under Roman rule (1st to 4th century AD). It still bears the inscription of Greek names in stone. One must sit on the bleachers and contemplate this piece of eternity where the greatest authors played their plays. On the terrace overlooking the theatre there is an artificial cave containing a waterfall from the Galermi River some 30 km away.