Continue to the ancient Greek precinct of Neopolis. Nearby are the latomie, great stone quarries that provided the building materials for the Greek city and later served as a prison for the defeated and enslaved Athenians. At one end lies the Orrechio di Dionisio, the Ear of Dionysius, a cave with an ear-shaped entrance and unusual acoustics. Legend says that Dionysius listened at the top of the quarry to hear what the slaves were plotting below. Drive a few miles south of Syracuse to the site of Pantalica where rock-cut tombs, dwellings and temples line the cliff faces of the limestone gorges.
Dinner is free.
Today s explorations take us to the Castle of Euryalus, created in 402 BC by Dionysius with the help of Archimedes as protection against the Carthaginians. Today, it is the finest surviving example of Greek military architecture. Travel on to the Palazzolo Acr ide where Baroque palaces are built on top of 7 th- century BC Greek structures. In the Medieval sector of the town, visit the Museum-House of Antonio Uccello dedicated to peasant life, and Noto, famous for its beautiful architecture. Called the Garden of Stone for its beautiful carving, the old center is a monument to the Sicilian Baroque style.