Neapolis Archaeological Park
Neapolis Archaeological Park features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Syracuse. Give it roughly ~150 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type ruins
- Suggested visit ~150 min
- Syracuse Syracuse guide
About Neapolis Archaeological Park
The great open-air archaeological park north of central Syracuse, containing the Greek Theatre, Roman Amphitheatre, Ear of Dionysius, Altar of Hieron II, and ancient stone quarries, the single most important ancient site in Sicily.
The Neapolis Archaeological Park is the primary ancient site of Syracuse and one of the most important in the entire Mediterranean world. Covering a large area of the ancient residential district of Neapolis (New City), north of Ortigia, the park contains within a single ticket the Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Ear of Dionysius, the Latomia del Paradiso quarry, and the impressive remains of the Altar of Hieron II, a massive sacrificial altar nearly 200 metres long built in the 3rd century BC, the largest in the ancient Greek world. The park requires at minimum two to three hours to see properly and is best visited in the morning before the heat becomes intense. An on-site museum provides context for the finds.
Did you know? The Altar of Hieron II in the Neapolis park measured approximately 198 metres long, longer than two American football fields placed end to end, and was used for the simultaneous sacrifice of 450 oxen during the festival of Zeus Eleutherios. It is the largest ancient Greek altar known to archaeologists.
How long is a visit to Neapolis Archaeological Park?
Set aside roughly ~150 min for Neapolis Archaeological Park. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Neapolis Archaeological Park worth your time?
Neapolis Archaeological Park is among the 20 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Syracuse, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Syracuse
Hear the story of Neapolis Archaeological Park
Preview the Syracuse tour free in the Gingerguide app.