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09 September 2023

• neapolis archaeological park
• maniace castle
• indiana jones

Syracuse is a town with a millennia-long history, whose monuments attract and fascinate tourists from all over the world. Recently also Hollywood and its most famous fictional archaeologist were fascinated by the history of the most powerful of the Greek colonies and its impressive archaeological remains. The movie "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" the fifth chapter of the archaeologist's adventures, is extensively inspired by the history of Syracuse and its locations. Already starting with the plot that sees Indy on the trail of the most incredible of Archimedes' inventions (the genius from Syracuse who lived in the 3rd century BC) and continuing with the locations. The latest adventure of Dr. Jones takes him on a long journey with Sicily and the town of Syracuse as its destination. The people of Syracuse still vividly remember the film crew working in town. But where can you find the Syracuse locations used during the filming of Indiana Jones? In this post, we will try to provide some useful information for those who plan to visit Syracuse, follow in Indy's footsteps, and perhaps discover the miraculous dial of destiny created by Archimedes. We will try to avoid spoilers as much as possible for those who haven't seen the movie yet.

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02 September 2023

Archimedes, the famous physicist, mathematician, and inventor who lived in the 3rd century BC, was Greek but a Greek born in the most powerful of the Western colonies, Syracuse. Many tourists participating at Hermes Sicily's guided tours, ask us information about the life of this universally recognized genius, who became famous thanks to stories and legends about him. Who doesn't know his exclamation "Eureka" when he discovered that what is now called "Archimede's principle"? And who hasn't heard the story of the burning mirrors that Archimedes invented to burn out the Roman ships which where attacking  the town of Syracuse? After hearing the tales from our guides about Archimedes' studies and achievements, many of the participants in our guided tours also ask us where the tomb of the famous Syracusan inventor is located. The answer to this question is not simple. Various tourist guide books and signs in the city indicate the "Tomb of Archimedes." The indicated location is inside the Neapolis Park, the most important and visited archaeological area in the city. Here, on the edge of the park, in an area that is not always open to visitors (only seasonally), there is a monumental tomb carved into the rock and decorated with a triangular roof and the remains of two columns. Altough this part of the Neapolis Park is not always accessible, this archaeological monument can also be seen from the outside fence, on the side of Viale Teracati. This tomb surely captures the imagination of those visiting Syracuse in the footsteps of Archimedes but actually that it is a "false tomb of Archimedes" related to the famous inventor only by the local tradition. The legenday name of this tomb is probably due to its geometric decorations which meet the stories of the ancient historians recounted, stating that a triangle and a sphere were built on Archimedes' tomb to honor his studies of geometry. Actually archaeological digs carried out in the 20th century have dated this tomb to a later period, identifying it instead as a Roman columbarium.

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14 July 2023

• maniace castle
• hypogeum

Maniace Castle and Hypogeum of Piazza Duomo openings

[ Maniace Castle timetable | Hypogeum timetable | Apollo temple timetable | Book a tour guide ]

Below you can find the opening hours as communicated by the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage of Siracusa for the following monuments: the Castello Maniace, the fortress located on the tip of the Ortigia Island, the Ipogeo di Piazza Duomo, and the Temple of Apollo.

Please note that the publication on this blog is purely informative and is not official. Changes are possible without notice, and for updated information, it is necessary to refer directly to the regional department for cultural heritage or the Superintendence of Siracusa at the contact details indicated on the official website.

Castello Maniace - opening hours (for November 2024)

The Castello Maniace is the fortress commissioned by Frederick II of Swabia and dominates the extreme tip of Ortigia.

Opening times of Castello Maniace

November

Free entrace on Sunday 3rd November!

• Monday 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM (last entry at 12:45 PM)
• Tuesday to Saturday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (last entry at 3:45 PM)
• Sunday and holidays 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM (last entry at 12:45 PM)

The Castello Maniace is an imposing fortress located on the extreme tip of Ortigia Island. The original core dates back to the Middle Ages and was commissioned by Emperor Frederick II of Swabia in the 13th century. In subsequent eras, the castle was expanded and reinforced. The visit allows you to admire the evocative hypostyle hall and the splendid natural harbor of Siracusa. [guided tours] 

Ipogeo (Hypogeum) di Piazza Duomo - opening hours:

November 2024

Currently, the openings are only on special dates. For long-term information, please contact the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage of Siracusa, the managing entity of the site.

Openings in July:

[ Guided Tour Information ]

Ipogeo di Piazza Duomo: beneath the main square of Siracusa, there are a series of passages and underground chambers dating back to various epochs: remains of aqueducts, cisterns, and communication tunnels united in a single large complex and used as an air-raid shelter during World War II. The visit allows you to descend into the depths of Ortigia and take a journey through the history of the city, emerging directly overlooking the sea. [guided tours] 

Temple of Apollo

At the moment, the Temple of Apollo remains closed and can only be admired from the panoramic view outside.

Temple of Apollo: located at the entrance of Ortigia Island, it is one of the most important archaeological testimonies of Siracusa due to its antiquity. The temple can always be admired from the promenade above, while the openings of the area below are limited to special events organized throughout the year. [guided tours]

Castello Maniace and Ipogeo di Piazza Duomo entrance tickets

The cost of the entrance ticket to Castello Maniace is € 9 (during the current temporary exhibition). For the Ipogeo di Piazza Duomo, the cost of the ticket is € 2.

Free entrance for children under 18 years old.

School groups are entitled to free admission but must submit a copy of the participant list issued by the school secretariat to the ticket office.

Guided Tours

Guided tours of Castello Maniace are available upon request from authorized tourist guides Hermes Sicily Tours. Private guides for groups, small parties, or individuals can be booked throughout the year in combination with the visit to Ortigia. More information is available on this page. You can also send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to request a quote for a visit to Castello Maniace or to arrange a customized itinerary that includes Ortigia or other points of interest.

Various group visits are proposed throughout the year, especially within the schedules of summer and Christmas group visits, as well as on certain Sundays of other months as part of the seasonal events calendar. You can check if there are scheduled dates on the two pages below:

Summer and Christmas group visits calendar  |  Seasonal events calendar

Guided tours of the Ipogeo di Piazza Duomo can be requested from Hermes guides as an additional option to the standard visit of Ortigia. The visit to the Ipogeo is only possible during the officially communicated opening periods by the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage of Siracusa. The view and explanations related to the Temple of Apollo are included in all our tours in Ortigia.