Ear of Dionysius, Syracuse, Italy

The legendary Ear of Dionysius is the most famous cave in Syracuse. It’s called this way for its ear shape and above all for its remarkable acoustic properties which amplify the sounds inside it. Its name was given by the painter Michelangelo da Caravaggio. According to the legend, the tyrant Dionysus used it as a jail and he used to eavesdrop on the prisoners’ conversations.

This cave was dug in Greek/Roman times as a water storage for Syracuse. A narrow tunnel was dug first. This tunnel was widened by digging down and sideways afterwards, giving the cave its unusual shape. The small narrow tunnel is still visible on the top of this artificial cave. An earthquake struck this area causing damage, and the cave became unusable for water storage afterwards.

References:

Visit Sicily

User Reviews

Tímea (11 months ago)
Nice experience, surprising but 16.5 € is a little more expensive than I thought it would be. Don't miss the ear of Dionysius - but read the story!

Tony Amaro (11 months ago)
Fantastic historic place. Some may be annoyed with modern sculptures throughout the park

Liam Jay Neustadter (11 months ago)
Nice place overall. A bit boring if you're not a modern art lover, but it's a really spacious cave and it's cool to explore!

Arash Boostani (14 months ago)
The Ear of Dionysius is a remarkable archaeological marvel in Syracuse, known for its unique ear-like shape and extraordinary acoustics. This limestone cave, carved out of the Temenites hill, is steeped in history and legend, offering visitors a glimpse into the past. A must-visit for those interested in the intriguing blend of natural beauty and historical mythology.

Rosalie DeGaetano (14 months ago)
Neapolis is an open air museum. It is very well kept. If you are into history you must visit! It took us around 2 hours to complete the full tour. We paid 16.50 euro each.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Christian Lauw

Historic Site of the week

Wieskirche

The Pilgrimage Church of Wies (Wieskirche) is an oval rococo church, designed in the late 1740s by Dominikus Zimmermann. It is located in the foothills of the Alps in the municipality of Steingaden.

The sanctuary of Wies is a pilgrimage church extraordinarily well-preserved in the beautiful setting of an Alpine valley, and is a perfect masterpiece of Rococo art and creative genius, as well as an exceptional testimony to a civilization that has disappeared.

The hamlet of Wies, in 1738, is said to have been the setting of a miracle in which tears were seen on a simple wooden figure of Christ mounted on a column that was no longer venerated by the Premonstratensian monks of the Abbey. A wooden chapel constructed in the fields housed the miraculous statue for some time. However, pilgrims from Germany, Austria, Bohemia, and even Italy became so numerous that the Abbot of the Premonstratensians of Steingaden decided to construct a splendid sanctuary.

Ear of Dionysius

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Wieskirche