Catacombe di San Giovanni, Siracusa

The Catacombs of St. John in Siracusa contain some 20,000 Early Christian tombs - honeycombed tunnels of empty coffins that were long ago looted of their "burial riches" by plundering grave robbers. They are entered through the evocative ruins of a Norman church.

History

In Roman times, Christians were not allowed to bury their dead within the city limits, so they went outside the boundaries of Syracuse to create burial chambers in what had been used by the Greeks as underground aqueducts. The early Christians recycled these into chapels.

Syracuse has other subterranean burial grounds, but the Catacombs of St. John are the only ones open to the public. You enter the "world of the dead" from the Chiesa di San Giovanni, now a ruin. St. Paul is said to have preached on this spot, so the early Christians venerated it as holy ground.

The church's roots go back to the 6th century, when a basilica stood here, but it was eventually destroyed by the Saracens. The Normans reconstructed it in the 12th century and it served as the cathedral of Syracuse, but in 1693 an earthquake destroyed it. A baroque church was then built, but was abandoned in the 17th century and left in ruins by the earthquake of 1908.

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Successful edition of the Air Malta Syracuse regatta

The 49th edition of the Malta Syracuse Regatta, which anuallly attracts some of the best Maltese and Sicilian boats , was successfully held recently.

This was the second time that Air Malta sponsored this event, which saw the participation of 66 yachts that competed in the race between Siracusa and Malta.

Every year this classic race organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club and Lega Navale Italiana Sezzione Siracusa alternates start lines, and this year it terminated at the Marsamxett Harbour.

'Wolverine' was the overall winner in the ORC category as well as 1st in IRC Class B and winner of the Easy Perfection Trophy, while Maltese yacht ‘Ton Ton’ won the IRC category A, closely followed by the Italian boat ‘Nautilus 227’. Air Malta’s 'Maltese Falcon II' yacht came in third.

The prize-giving ceremony was organised at the Grand Harbour Marina under Fort St Angelo. The prizes were awarded by Dr Brock Friesen, Air Malta Chief Officer Commercial and Georges Bonello DuPuis, Commodore of the Royal Malta Yacht Club.

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Interested in the best Italian sparkling wine? - taste like Champagne, but for a fraction of the price! Pinot Prosecco

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“To have seen Italy without Sicily - is not to have seen Italy at all,
as Sicily is the key to everything” - Goethe

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Siracusa International Tango Festival starting this week, and so do the Week of Tango in Palermo.

On Thursday the 25th to Sunday 28th of June the Siracusa International Tango Festival in Sicily, will again open for the dancers and spectators from around the world. This the 3rd edition, Fausto and Vero will be participating in the festival organization to help the visitors find their way around the event. The evening milongas will take place in the historical Maniace Castle that dates back to the year of 1239 and the afternoon milongas at the Zen Solarium, Via Riviera Dionisio il Grande, 194 – Siracusa. For the latest updates about the festival please consult the Siracusa International Tango Festival website.


Almost at the same time there is also another event named "A week of tango" in Palermo.

This full immersion into the world of tango is organized by the Argentine masters Silvina Larrea and Pablo Pouchot. Mondello Summer Tango, now in its fourth edition, will take place in Palermo from Saturday June 27th to Sunday July 5th.

The event will begin Saturday with the conference "Tango, history and fate of a language," followed by refreshments. The next day, Sunday, will be the time of opening milonga, from 21 all'Altamarea Lounge Bar in Isola delle Femmine. Thus, the seminar from June 29 to July 3, at Mondello Palace Hotel (Viale Principe di Scalea), where, as part of lessons designed for all levels, beginners, intermediate, advanced will be able to deal with the absolutely unique technique of two masters. Throughout the period of the Summer Tango Mondello, the Palace will host an exhibition of the artist Alicia Gelpi Argentina "Buenos Aires desde arriba", a personal interpretation of this multifaceted city.

On July 5, again at 21 and still all'Altamarea Lounge Bar in Island of Women, will continue with Milonga Final: The much awaited exhibition of Silvina Larrea and Pablo Pouchot and those of pupils of Mondello Summer Tango. For more course information, you can call 091/9765716 or visit the sites www.civitastango.com and www.silvinapablo.com.ar

To learn more about Sicily visit Sicily Tourist Guide

To get updates about the Best of Sicily follow us at www.twitter.com/SicilyToday

The taste of Sicily is only a click away - Get the best Sicilian gourmet food delivered directly to your doorstep from www.Sicilian-Marketplace.com - The TOP 100 most sold Sicilian food products online. Our Sicily marketplace is powered by the worlds biggest online shopping site - best customer satisfaction guaranteed!

Interested in the best Italian sparkling wine? - taste like Champagne, but for a fraction of the price! Pinot Prosecco

Why not try some world class fishing and see Sicily from the sea, book a spectacular Sicilian fishing trip with SicilyFishing.com

“To have seen Italy without Sicily - is not to have seen Italy at all,
as Sicily is the key to everything” - Goethe

Sicily, The World's Next Great Retirement Destination(TM) of LivingInSicily.com -a forum for those who love Sicily and those who seek information about living in Sicily or moving to Sicily.