From Ionian to Baroque style

The Cathedral was built on the basement of a Doric temple dedicated to the Goddess Athena by the Greeks in the V century b.C., which was already on an older temple in Ionian style.
There are just two columns belonging to the old temple of Athena, which are kept inside and outside the Cathedral. Historians think it had 14 columns on both sides.

The Cathedral (Duomo) is an important legacy of different cultures and populations that inhabited the island. Thanks to Byzantines, the temple became a paleochristian church, as they built walls on the columns and they created a building with three naves.

Syracuse was one of the first places with a Christian community in Europe, as the first Bishop of the Cathedral was Marciano, who was sent to Syracuse by St. Paul in 39 after Christ.

Interior

Inside the cathedral there are parts dating back to the Siceliot era, as they belong to the Greek temple, and parts of the Middle Ages, that were built by Normans, who added windows and mosaics.

In addition to the columns, there is also a wooden roof, which was realized in 1528, and the holy water stoups, made by Puglisi. Also, the floor in marble was added in 1700, with complex Baroque figures. The chapels are very important, as they were built in different historical periods.

The facade

The facade of the Cathedral is the highest representation of Syracusan Baroque. It was made by Andrea Palma and it represents a masterpiece. It has two columns that aren't attached to the wall, with detached frames. It is very scenographic as there are many marble statues of important Saints.

It has two orizontal orders which are divided by a trabeation. The inferior order has six columns, meanwhile the superior one has four.

On the triangular pediment there is an iron cross representing the highest point of the facade; on the sides there are two statues of two angels. The superior part has bas-riliefs with the shape of lilies.
After the entrance, there's the hall who presents three portals, of which the biggest one is the central door.

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