Points of Interest
Numerous remains testify to the city's past greatness. On Ortygia are the cathedral, built (7th cent. a.d.) on the remains of a Greek temple, with 12 Doric columns; the fountain of Arethusa; ruins of a temple of Apollo; and a castle built (13th cent. a.d.) by emperor Frederick II. Art and other museums are also there. Among the remains on the mainland are a large, well-preserved Greek theater (5th cent. b.c.), still used for performances of classical works; a Roman amphitheater (2d cent. a.d.); the large Greek fortress of Euralus; and the extensive Catacombs of St. John (5th–6th cent. a.d.); the remarkable archaeological museum also is on the mainland.
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