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Many people confuse the historical center of Noto, a UNESCO heritage site, with Noto Antica, ancient Noto thinking that the two names refer to the same place. Looking at a map of the province of Syracuse you will notice both names just a few kilometers apart. Noto is the town that is inhabited today and boasts a splendid Baroque historic center. Noto Antica, on the other hand, is the site of the ancient city of Noto, which was completely destroyed by the great earthquake of 1693. The town actually had very ancient origins, existing as early as the Greek period. Some scholars have even suggested that Noto was the tow founded by Ducezio, the leader who united the Sikels in a revolt against the Greeks. What is certain is that Noto flourished in ancient times and then in the Middle Ages on Mount Alveria, and the town was so severely damaged by the 1693 earthquake that it was decided to move it a few kilometers away. Since the 17th century, the site has been sparsely inhabited, and as a result, the entire area is an extraordinary archaeological site that deserves to be studied and promoted along with the splendid natural area of Cava Carosello, where ancient tanneries still stand.
An admirable effort to promote and raise awareness is continuously carried out by the ISVNA (Institute for the Study and Promotion of Noto Antica), which also organizes the annual "Festa dell'Alveria" to revitalize the ancient site.
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Passions and Illusions. The classical hero between myth and staging is the title of the temporary exhibition hosted in the halls of the regional gallery of medieval and modern art at Palazzo Bellomo, in Ortigia, Siracusa. The exhibition will showcase materials from the archive of INDA, the National Institute of Ancient Drama, the foundation that organizes the classical performances at the Greek Theatre of Siracusa. The exhibition will be open from September 20, 2024 (inauguration at 5:30 PM) to November 24, 2024, during the opening hours of the Bellomo museum. For more information, you can contact the regional gallery of Palazzo Bellomo or by email
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It may seem curious to dedicate a post to the difference between Siracusa (Syracuse) and Ortigia (Ortygia), especially considering some recent media gaffes that have also involved institutions preparing for the G7 Agriculture and Fisheries in Siracusa, scheduled for the end of September 2024. Several misunderstandings have arisen, starting from: the institutional campaign, which located the G7 in Ortigia instead of Siracusa, to the error made by the chief of staff of the Ministry of Agriculture who thanked the "mayor of Ortigia" in a recent press conference.
But we at Hermes Sicily Guides & Tours in our twenty and more years of experience, promoting and leading visitors to discover the beauties of Ortigia and Siracusa, have noticed that it is a frequent question among tourist and that it is not so clear if Siracusa and Ortigia are two different towns or not. We don't know the origin of this confusion, most likely the great media and tourist visibility that Ortigia has gained over the years and probably also the word of mouth from those who have already visited the town and have recommended "absolutely visit Ortigia".
At this point, however, we want to clarify in a simple way for the benefit of those planning a visit to our beautiful city:
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Syracuse, is famous for its magnificent Greek theater, but the town preserves also another archaeological gem that is less known but equally evocative: the linear or rectilinear theater, studied by the Italian archaeologist Gino Vinicio Gentili. It is located on the southwestern side of the Temenite hill, at a short distance from the more famous Greek theater which is still used today for classical performances. The linear theater of Syracuse was studied in the 1950s by Gentili, who interpreted it as a small theatrical structure. Unlike the classic Greek theater, which is semicircular, this second "theater" has a rectilinear layout. The structure of the linear theater extends along a longitudinal axis. The rectilinear staircase, located just 100 meters from the Greek theater and the Neapolis archaeological area, faces south. Nowadays there are still 17 rows of seats of the koilon preserved and divided into 3 kerkides and 2 klimakes. The structure measures approximately 27x13 meters, and Gentili hypothesized two construction phases, the first of which included only 9 rows of seats. The construction of the modern road, the so-called "panoramica," cut off the continuity of the monument, which is now located outside the fence of the archaeological area. At present no archaeological digs where possible to obtain information about a possible orchestra or stage building. The period of use of the building is dated between the 6th and 3rd century B.C., with a terminus ante quem for its abandonment given by a small funerary hypogeum built at the base of the monument in the 3rd century B.C.
