In the heart of Ortigia, the Cathedral of Syracuse is a unique monument where history, art and spirituality have been intertwined for more than 2,500 years.
Founded as the Temple of Athena in the 5th century B.C., it still preserves the imposing Doric columns incorporated into the walls. Transformed into a Christian church in the 7th century AD, during Arab rule it was stripped of furnishings and decorations, only to be reconsecrated by the Normans in 1085. After the 1693 earthquake, its façade was rebuilt in splendid Sicilian Baroque style, giving the Cathedral of Syracuse the dramatic appearance that now dominates Cathedral Square. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Cathedral of Syracuse is a veritable book of stone, where history, art and faith are intertwined.