Latomia of the Capuchins

Culture, Monuments
Piazza Cappuccini - 96100 Siracusa

    Monday to Friday from 9.30 to 13.30
    Saturday and Sunday, guided tour only by reservation from 10.00 to 13.00 / from 16.30 to 19.30

    Guided tour

    Entrance € 3,00
    Guided tour € 5,00

    The one of Capuchins is certainly the oldest and most beautiful Latomia of Syracuse.

    The link with the Minor Friars of St. Francis dates back to 1582, when the University of Syracuse donated it to the monks in order to build there their fortified monastery, in defense of this part of the city whose coastline was threatened by constant pirate attacks.
    The Friars transformed the Latomia in vegetable garden and park; to them is also due the rich and thick vegetation, the excavation of wells, construction of tanks and of irrigation systems still visible.

    The Latomia, which can be accessed through a long stairway, covers about 23,000 square meters and in it is still visible the white-gray limestone rock. Special mention deserve the singular pillar of rock that, because of the erosive action of the atmospheric agents, has the shape of the head of a crocodile with an enormous open mouth and the rich vegetation characterized by considerable development achieved by plants, sometimes 20- 30 meters, in search of the sun hardly present at different times of day.

    Recently the Latomia was reopened thanks to the action of the Association “Italia Nostra” which has restored part of the area and has enhanced it with numerous cultural events.