To approximately 7 km from Siracusa, in direction of Lookout, it rises Castello Eurialo (from the Greek “eurvelos”, nail from the wide base), largest and completes military work that is remained of the Greek period. It has a surface of approximately 15.000 mq., fortified of wide ditches, towers of sight, a bridge levatoio and trenches basements, that they rendered the city of impregnable Siracusa. 

It was made to construct, to defense of the city, from Dionisio the Old one in six years, between the 402 and 397 a.c., period in which Siracusa it was in fight with the Cartaginesi. In order to strengthen the defense of the city, beyond constructing to new ships and widening the arsenals, Dionisio determined to fortify the Epipoli (high city) that, during I besiege Athenian of some year before, had represented the point weak person of the defensive system. To the jobs 60,000 men, that 5.000 meters constructed in 20 days a long wall, to defense of the part participated North of the Epipoli; the rest came then built up in the successes to you 6 years.

The entrance of this castle is protect from 3 ditches. The first one, today buried, is along 6 m. and deep 4 m. ; the second, to 86 m. from the first one, it is along approximately 50 m., wide 22 m. and deep 7 m. ; the third ditch is wide 17 m., deep 9 m. and long 80 m. This last ditch was the more important, in how much connected all the apparatus of defense of the fortress. To North it is crossed from a wall, to South are 3 great pillars that supported the bridge levatoio. The 5 towers that we notice after the third ditch served in order to accommodate the ballistas, than, situated more up than those of the enemies, could hit without being from these damaged. Behind these towers a courtyard, that it has accommodated, in period is opened gande bizantino, the barracks of the soldiers; to the center of the courtyard there were the reserviors.

From the other side of the castle, the defensive system was constituted from two walls mails in front of the access doors, that they prevented the attacks in mass of the enemy. All this structure to funnel shape allowed one easier defense.

Inside of the castle, all to ollow itself of galleries it gave the possibility to move the troops from a point to the other of the fortress without being seen, to the aim to ring the enemy easy.

COST

Free.

OPEN

Daily 9-1 hr before sunset.