• Home
  • Start
  • How-to Tips
    • Tips for Solo Travel
    • Planning
  • Trips/Deals
    • Tours – Searchable
    • All Trips by Advertiser
  • Stats
  • Home
  • Start
  • How-to Tips
    • Tips for Solo Travel
    • Planning
  • Trips/Deals
    • Tours – Searchable
    • All Trips by Advertiser
  • Stats

Solo Traveler

Solo travel tips, destinations, stories... the source for those who travel alone.

Sign Up

You are here: Home / Solo Travel Destinations / Europe / Italy / Cathedral of Syracuse: My Favorite Church in Europe

Cathedral of Syracuse: My Favorite Church in Europe

Janice Waugh

November 14, 2018 by Janice Waugh

The Cathedral of Syracuse is on the left.

The Cathedral of Syracuse, or Duomo di Siracusa, was a fascinating surprise.

Like many of you, I have seen many of the churches of Europe.

There's actually a code in the tour industry for the fact that so many churches are on itineraries. ABC stands for “another bloody church”. I don't think it's an act of disrespect. It's just that if you are a tour guide you may take groups through hundreds of churches in a season. It could be difficult to maintain the appropriate enthusiasm.

I've visited the occasional synagogue and mosque, but it is Christian churches that dominate Europe. Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Byzantine, Baroque: there are many different styles. I've seen sweet, simple churches, which I tend to like a lot, and elaborate cathedrals with enormous paintings, statues, and gold leaf everywhere.

I've likely visited more than a hundred churches in Europe.

However, on my trip to Sicily with Just You, I discovered that I have a favorite.

Just You sponsored this trip. They are a tour company that works exclusively with solo travelers. You can read what the experience is like here: Solo Traveler on a Solo-Only Tour.

Another view of the baroque facade of the Duomo di Siracusa.

My Favorite Church in Europe

My favorite church is in Syracuse, Sicily. It's actually the Duomo di Siracusa, located on the island of Ortygia in old Syracuse. The building itself dates back to the 5th century BCE. It was first built as the Temple of Athena, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom and War. Like many Greek and Roman temples, it was transformed to be a church in the early Christian era.

The cathedral has seen 2,500 years of change. Excavations show that the site was a place of worship centuries earlier. What makes this cathedral so fascinating to me is that it was actually built on and around the original Doric temple. As a visitor, you can see the layers of architectural change.

Below you can see the Doric columns from the 5th century BCE on the outside of the cathedral. Building the walls between the columns, an orthodox, Byzantine church was created in the 6th century. The columns are visible on the inside of the church as well. In the 9th century, Arabs took Syracuse and converted the church to a mosque. Then, in the 12th century the Normans invaded, making the building, once again, Christian, but this time under the jurisdiction of Rome. After an earthquake in 1693, the façade was rebuilt in the Baroque style, with Corinthian columns.

I love this church because its long history is so evident. You can get a feel for this in the images below.

Here you can see the Norman roof on top of the enclosed Doric columns. The columns are from the Greek Temple of Athena, the walls are from the Byzantine period, and the roof was made by the Normans.

The columns can be seen even more clearly on the inside.

In the nave you can see all periods of the cathedral's history.

A Baroque altar. There are additional chapels along the side from more recent centuries.

Not more than a few blocks away from the cathedral is the waterfront where we had lunch.

A few days later we saw two more churches when we visited Monreale and Palermo on the hill above Palermo.

Views of Monreale Cathedral

The Duomo di Monreale is a wonderful example of Norman architecture. It was begun in 1174.

While the cathedral's structure was built in a Norman fashion, the interior held true to the Byzantine artistry with stunning mosaics everywhere.

The mosaic artists were local and from Constantinople. They covered 6,000 square meters in mosaics in just three years.

Views of Palermo Cathedral

The Cattedrale di Palermo is dedicated to the assumption of the Virgin Mary.

This is the silver altar of Santa Rosalia Chapel in Palermo's Cathedral of the Assumption of Virgin Mary.

Thank you to Just You for sponsoring this trip. Solo Traveler maintains full editorial control over all content on this site.

Last updated: 21st February, 2023

Sharing is caring!

101 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

Trips for Solo Travelers

Travel Insurance for Solo Travelers

Posts You Want to Read

Top Categories on Solo Traveler

Solo Female Travel

Road Trips

A Solo Point of View

All Articles

Destinations

Travel Money

Deals

  • Solo Female Travel Tips: Advice from Women Who Know
  • Road Trips: Tips & Itineraries for Solo Travelers
  • Packing for Travel |
  • A Solo Point of View |
  • All Articles
  • Destinations
  • Travel Money
  • Deals

Contact Us

Publisher Janice: info @ solotravelerworld.com

Editor Tracey: tracey @ solotravelerworld.com

Sales Simon: simon @ solotravelerworld.com

Get Solo Travel News & Deals

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise with Solo Traveler
    • Create Your Advertiser Account
    • Login to Your Advertiser Account
  • Deals
  • Solo Travel Statistics
  • Media & Speaking
  • Privacy Policy & Disclosure
  • Contact
A Proud Member of the Travel Media Association of Canada
RESULTS MAY VARY (THE DISCLAIMER)

The content of Solo Traveler and any resources published by Solo Traveler are meant for entertainment and inspiration only. Please note that while we have advertising clients promoting destinations, products, services, trips and tours on Solo Traveler and that we endeavour to only work with companies in which we have confidence, we are not responsible for the delivery or quality of their products or services. Every person and every travel situation is different. Your safety, satisfaction and fun traveling solo are your responsibility alone and not that of Solo Traveler, its publisher, editor and/or writers.

PRIVACY POLICY & DISCLOSURE: In accordance with FTC guidelines, I disclose that I may be compensated if consumers choose to utilize links located throughout the content on this site. Additionally, some posts might be sponsored to support this site. Please do the appropriate research before participating in any third party offers. All opinions are my own. Please read our full Privacy Policy here.

Copyright © 2023 · Solo Traveler · Site By RTW Labs

101 shares