Ear of Dionysius (Orecchio di Dionisio)

Set in the hills of the Sicilian town of Syracuse is a large cave with the evocative name of the Ear of Dionysius. The name does not, however, refer to the Greek god. The name, Orecchio di Dionisio in Italian, was given to the cave by 16th-century painter Caravaggio, who named it after a vicious fifth-century BCE ruler of Syracuse. He is said to have used the cave as a political prison, and the cave's incredible acoustics gave him the ability to eavesdrop on his enemies. Another legend says he once used the cave as a torture chamber. While the legends are unlikely to be true, the name stuck. The primary acoustic position in the cave is no longer accessible to visitors due to safety concerns, but the cavern is still an impressive sight.

Practical Info

The Ear of Dionysius is part of a larger archaeological site that also includes a Greek theatre. The park is open Tuesday-Saturday 8:30am-4:30pm, and Mondays and holidays from 8:30am-12:30pm. Admission to the park is €10.