The Eurialo Castle in Syracuse

The Eurialo Castle (from "eurvelos", nail with a wide base, in Greek language) is 8 km far from Syracuse, southeast side of Sicily-Italy, and is the most beautiful, complete and impressive military Greek monument. Built  for Dionysus’ will among 402 and 397 b.C, in a very particular moment for Syracuse because of the struggle against Carthage, the castle was built to defend the city against possible hostile raids. Placed on the top of the Epìpoli (the high city) where the North and South walls of the Sicilian city are joined, the Eurialo Castle had to solve the problems of vulnerabilities which had verified themselves during the Athenian siege. The fortress, which extends for 15000 sq.m., is protected by three ditches dug in the rock on the frontal side, while the main body (the tower), rearranged in Byzantine epoch, has a quadrangular plan and presents five towers with square plan on the West side. A part of the structure is constituted by a fence with several cisterns which were joined in the past to the walls of the ancient town, on the South side. On the North side, instead, there was a net of tunnels and underground passages which permitted easy and quick troops’ movements. The castle had also an efficient system of protection of the main entry of the town, which protect Siracusa together with watch towers and a drawbridge.
Visiting the Eurialo Castle is today possible and free from 09.00a.m.  to 1 hour and half before the sunset.

Info
Castello Eurialo, Eurialo square, 1 – Syracuse, Sicily, Italy
Tel: +39 0931 711773