An uncrowded wonder

It's incredible that such a wonderful place is not very crowded, maybe it's because of its name "Archeological Museum"... what a waste! The Paolo Orsi is one of the most extraordinary European museums.

The building is surrounded by a wide green park which is very important for its history, as it contains the tomb of Augusto von Planten, a German poet. Its structure has the shape of a daisy, and it consists of 3 sectors that revolve around a central body.

Daisy-shaped

In sector A, there are rocks, plants, and fossils of the Quaternary era, such as the cast of two elephants and other elements that date back to the Paleolithic and Neolithic.

Visiting sector B, it is possible to admire artifacts proving the Greek presence in Sicily: vases, bas-reliefs, elements in earthenware and stones belonging to old temples.

Similarly, sector C is dedicated to the sub-colonies of Syracuse, such as Eloro, Akrai, Casmene, and Camarina. It collects artifacts found in Gela and Agrigento, likewise the ancient vases with a red background and black figures.

Sector D contains elements that belong both to Ellenic and Roman periods. In this part of the exhibition, there are statues, architectural elements, and ceramics from the artisans of Syracuse that were found in the necropolis. They document the life of the great Ellenic society in the Mediterranean.

Sector E is dedicated to Christian and Byzantine archeology. La Rotonda di Adelfia is one of the most important pieces of this section, it contains a sarcophagus made of marble, on which scenes from the Bible are carved. It was found in 1872 and it probably belongs to the IV century A.C.

Opening Hours

From Monday to Friday 9.00 - 18.00
Sundays and Holidays 9.00 - 13.00
More information available here.

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