An underrated spot in Italy that holds a heavy ground of legends and history, the Neapolis Archaeological Park in Syracuse is one of its top attractions and undoubtedly on the list of the best things to see in Sicily.

With one of the world’s biggest structures, altars built for Greek gods, fountains and shrines, and a cave made famous by Indiana Jones, the park has become one of the popular places to see in Sicily when in the city. So if you’re around town on your next vacation, make sure you make a stop in this legendary place.

Learn about the park and all its structures with this guided tour

Roman Amphitheatre

One of the incredible structures of Syracuse that stood in the Neapolis Archaeological Park was the Roman Amphitheatre built between 3C – 4C. While the theatre is still there today, it’s not half as what it used to be with some of the structures destroyed and taken away by the Spanish to build the city walls.

That said, the grandeur and sheer size of the remaining amphitheater is still a sight to see. Neapolis’s roman amphitheater is said to be the third largest theatre in Rome where gladiator fights were held. A large block of rectangular room stands in the center of the arena. This room is believed to have been used to hide stage machinery or as a trap door to release animals onto the arena.

You can also see arches with walkways beneath them where the gladiators, winners and losers, were pushed to enter the stage and walked out when the fight was over.

Ear of Dionysius

Ear of Dionysius became Sicily’s top attractions after it was featured in Indiana Jones: The Dial of Destiny. It’s also one of Neapolis’s famous attractions and a structure that has intrigued scientists and historians worldwide.

Ear of Dionysius is a cave in the shape of an ear and it’s known for its acoustic properties. Even the quietest of sounds get amplified and can be heard through an opening at the top which is estimated to be around 72 feet from the ground.

The cave is named after the Greek tyrant ruler Dionysius I who ruled Syracuse from 432 to 367 B.C. The cave has multiple legends, the most famous being that the cave was used as a prison where Dionysius would capture and torture his prisoners. Their screams and sounds of pain would be amplified by the structure of the cave and the sadistic emperor enjoyed listening to it.

The cave’s shape and its sound science is indeed impressive. Conrad Malt-Brun, a journalist in 1829 had said, “The tearing of a piece of paper makes a noise not unlike that occasioned by knocking a heavy stick against a stone.”

See Neapolis, Oritigia and Noto in one day

Cave of Nymphs

An artificial cave carved into the rock of the Temenite hill in the Neapolis Archaeological Park, the Cave of Nymphs or the Grotto del Ninfeo is a cave with a fountain inside it which was inspired by the Greek cult of the nymphs, hence the name.

But the cave is more than just a pretty decor or a fountain. It was thought to have been an ancient seat of the Mouseion, sanctuary of the muses, where artists would meet before going down to the Greek theatre to perform their act. The cave has a vaulted ceiling, a basin to collect water from the fountain and you can also see shrines that were used for the practice for the cult of heroes.

Altar of Hieron

Another grand roman work that once stood proudly in the middle of Neapolis in the 3rd century is the Altar of Hieron that was dedicated to Zeus. Historical records describe the altar as being enormous in the past and could easily measure to the size of a stadium. Half of the altar was chiseled into the rock with the remaining half poking above it. Two stone giants once decorated the north end, now only a foot of one of them remains.

Much like the roman amphitheater, this altar was destroyed when the Spanish plundered it for building materials for the city. Today, all you can see is the massive base of the monument but even then, it still gives you an image into the sheer size the monument once was.

The Altar of Heroin was used for festivals. Some say that once a year, 450 bulls were simultaneously sacrificed in honor of Zeus. The corpses of the animals were then believed to have been burned at another raised platform in the center of the altar.

Get hotel pick-up and drop-of along with Neapolis tour

The Tomb of Archimedes

In one corner of Neapolis, you’ll find an ancient cemetery carved into the limestone rocks that contains graves from the Greek, Roman and Byzantine periods. Among them is the famous tomb of Archimedes, the Roman mathematician known throughout history and legends.

His name popped up once again in popular culture when Indiana Jones: The Dial of Destiny featured his character and a made-up tomb in the Neapolis Archaeological Park. But this isn’t very far from reality as the tomb of Archimedes indeed rests there.

Archimedes died during the Roman siege of Syracuse in 212 BC and is said to be buried in Neapolis. But many historians and Roman writer Cicero argued that Archimedes was buried in front of the gate to Agrigento. While the tomb in Neapolis left to debate, it is still known as the “tomb of Archimedes” and Roman history fans flock their way here to lay their eyes upon one of the most famous scientists in the world.