Hypogeal Path of Piazza Duomo

Culture, Monuments, Museum and historical sites
Piazza Duomo, 14 - 96100 Siracusa
0931 450801

Sunday to Thursday from 10.00 to 14.00 / from 16.00 to 22.00
Friday and Saturday from 10.00 to 14.00 / from 16.00 to 24.00

Full price € 5,00
Reduced € 2,50

The Hypogeum of Piazza Duomo is an underground path which is accessed by a small opening located along the wall of the garden of the Archbishop’s Palace.

The path was rediscovered in 1869 during the works that have affected the area of the square between the Archbishop and the Church of Saint Lucia alla Badia.

This consists of a long main tunnel, which connects Piazza Duomo to the Foro Italico, and of a network of tunnels and other underground passages.

Dating back to Greek period, the underground has been expanded during the Second World War to be used as a bomb shelter. In addition to the shelters for citizens, it was also excavated a “sacred” room to protect the statue and the treasure of the Patron Saint Lucia.

The path is dedicated to the civilian victims of the bombing of Syracuse of 19th July 1943; information boards with photos and images of that time show the Ipogeo transformations over the centuries.