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

Address

Viale Giulio Emanuele Rizzo 26, Syracuse, Italy

See all sites in Syracuse

Details

Founded: 5th century BC
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Italy

More Information

www.visitsicily.info
en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Palazzo degli Elefanti (50,3 km)
Terme Achilliane (50,2 km)
Catania Cathedral (50,2 km)
University of Catania (50,4 km)
Noto Cathedral (27,4 km)
Palazzo Ducezio (27,5 km)
San Carlo al Corso Church (27,6 km)
Basilica della Collegiata (50,4 km)
Montevergine Church (27,4 km)

User Reviews

Tímea (9 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 (9 months ago)
Fantastic historic place. Some may be annoyed with modern sculptures throughout the park

Liam Jay Neustadter (9 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 (12 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 (12 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

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Photo from Flickr, copyright Mark1792

Historic Site of the week

Rosenborg Castle

Rosenborg Palace was built in the period 1606-34 as Christian IV’s summerhouse just outside the ramparts of Copenhagen. Christian IV was very fond of the palace and often stayed at the castle when he resided in Copenhagen, and it was here that he died in 1648. After his death, the palace passed to his son King Frederik III, who together with his queen, Sophie Amalie, carried out several types of modernisation.

The last king who used the place as a residence was Frederik IV, and around 1720, Rosenborg was abandoned in favor of Frederiksborg Palace.Through the 1700s, considerable art treasures were collected at Rosenborg Castle, among other things items from the estates of deceased royalty and from Christiansborg after the fire there in 1794.

Soon the idea of a museum arose, and that was realised in 1833, which is The Royal Danish Collection’s official year of establishment.