Coupled with superb weather today there were only a few other people at what is a top tourist site. I wouldn’t have chosen to come to Sicily at this time of year, but there are definite advantages. It was warm enough for us to be in shirtsleeves although the Italians were still in their coats.
The open-top hop on/off bus took us to the Archeological Park. We were the only takers and the driver made an unscheduled five-minute stop halfway along as he had a rendezvous with his sweetheart. We wondered if she would be there again an hour later on his next circuit.
Most impressive at the Archeological Park was the Greek Theatre built in the fifth century BC. It had 67 rows of seating and held 15,000 people before the time of amplification. Of course, the Greeks were masters of acoustics, but if I had been sitting in the cheap seats, I think I would have been glad of an ear trumpet as well as opera glasses.
I have taken the photograph from where we reckon the ‘cheap seats’ would have been. A lot of stone has been removed by later incomers.
As well as the Roman Amphitheater we saw an opening in a rock face known as ‘The Ear of Dionysus’. When you hear the name ‘Dionysus’ don’t think ‘soppy Greek god of wine’ as I did. Dionysus was a tyrant from the fifth century BC who made Siracusa one of the most powerful Greek colonies. He is supposed to have listened to captured prisoners’ talk in order to learn the enemies’ secrets.
The driver of the hop on/off bus failed to make a return appearance which meant a (short) walk back to Ortigia.
Tortoise Travel 