Neapolis Archaeological Park Siracusa Self-Guided Audio Walk: Roman Amphitheatre, Ear of Dionysius and Greek Theatre
1 hour
About this experience
The Neapolis Archaeological Park is a hill that was quarried before it was a city, and much of what stands on it was cut into the rock: a Greek theatre rebuilt by King Hieron, an altar a stade long, a Roman amphitheatre. Hear what Thucydides says about the Athenian prisoners held in the quarries, how the story of the Ear of Dionysius began with a painter's remark printed in 1613, and why the tops of these monuments are missing. Walk the quarry garden, the rope makers' cave and the terrace above the seats, with the harbour and Ortigia beyond when the trees allow, and finish at the foot of the Greek theatre. Eight stops, about 0.65 km and 50 to 60 minutes, in English and at your own pace. The park entry ticket is not included and is bought at the gate or online.
- Experience type
- Day tour or activity
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Audio guide
- English
- Guide
- English
- Categories
- Walking tour · Cultural and theme tours · City tours
What's included
Self-guided audio tour in English: 8 stops, 0.6 km, 1 hour Stops at Roman amphitheatre, Hieron's altar, Paradise Quarry GPS map and walking directions in your phone browser, no app needed Lifetime access: start any day, at any hour, and replay it
What's not included
A live guide: you set the pace and the pauses A fixed start time: begin whenever you arrive The entry ticket for the ticketed site (about EUR 14 full price), bought at the gate or online Tip or gratuity Food and drinks Entry or admission fee
Please note
To start the tour, enter the ticket code from your confirmation on the Roamer redemption page linked there. Do this before you set off, while you still have signal. The tour then opens in your phone browser, with no app to download. Bring a charged phone and earphones. Mobile data helps; if you have none, open the tour on wifi before you set off. Best time: Early morning or late afternoon, to avoid the heat on the open limestone of the theatre, the altar and the amphitheatre rim; the quarry garden and caves are the cool parts. Autumn to early spring suits the theatre best, because the stone is normally bare after the festival season, which runs from spring into early summer with wooden seating over the stone. Hours change through the year (checked 3 October 2026, see the first stop's card). Official hours change by season; checked 3 October 2026: 1 to 24 October 8:30 to 18:15, ticket office closing 17:30; 25 to 31 October 8:30 to 17:15, ticket office closing 16:30. November hours were not published on the official page when checked. Entry is free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month according to the regional parks' standing notices (4 October 2026 was one when checked). Expect it to be busy. A combined ticket with the Paolo Orsi archaeological museum was listed at EUR 18 full and EUR 9 reduced (checked 3 October 2026); confirm at the desk. Buy individual tickets at the office by the church at the east end of the park street, in the pedestrian area by the gate, just before where this walk starts; the second office, near the amphitheatre, is tagged on maps for organised groups; confirm at the gate. Bring water, a hat and sun protection; there is little shade outside the quarry garden and the caves. Castello Eurialo has its own ticket and was shown as closed in October 2026 on the official hours page (checked 3 October 2026), so it is not part of this walk. The Santuario della Madonna delle Lacrime, a short walk away, is a working church: dress modestly and keep quiet during services. The ground in the quarry garden and around the caves is uneven, and some paths are steep. Several steps are cut in the rock, and at least one flight up to the terrace has no handrail. Access to the Grotta dei Cordari, the Ear of Dionysius, the amphitheatre arena and the theatre's lower level changes with conditions and festival work. Treat the stops as views from the path, and follow park signs and barriers. The lowest part of the Greek theatre is normally closed from spring to early summer for the festival seating. On performance days the park may close early (not confirmed; check on arrival). The sunken Via dei Sepolcri, the road above the theatre, is mapped as closed to the public. The top of the Ear of Dionysius is not open to visitors. Weather closures have happened at short notice (for example 12 November 2024 and 15 May 2025). Check the park's notices before travelling in bad weather. The park's ticket offices and amphitheatre path may be signed one way; follow the signs if they differ from this walk's order. Public transportation nearby
Itinerary
- 1Day 0
Roman Amphitheatre: A Bowl Cut into the Hill
Parco Archeologico della Neapolis, Via Luigi Bernabò Brea, Syracuse
A Roman arena cut into the hillside, with its upper tiers long gone. Experts still argue about its date. The walk starts here, just inside the ticket gate.
- 2Day 0
Park Gate and San Nicolò ai Cordari: A Fence Drawn Around the Past
Via Luigi Bernabò Brea, Syracuse
The park street at the gate beside a small stone church. The church once belonged to the rope makers, and the park was laid out in the 1950s.
- 3Day 0
Altar of Hieron II: A Stade of Solid Rock
3 Via Luigi Bernabò Brea, Syracuse
An altar base nearly two hundred metres long, cut from solid rock. Its tall stone upper part was taken in the 1500s.
- 4Day 0
Latomia del Paradiso: The Quarry That Made the City
Viale Giulio Emanuele Rizzo, Syracuse
A quarry garden where the Greek city cut its stone. Thucydides tells what became of the Athenian prisoners.
- 5Day 0
Grotta dei Cordari: A Rope Walk in a Quarry
Viale Giulio Emanuele Rizzo, Syracuse
A quarry cave where rope was twisted by hand until 1983. It reopened to visitors in July 2021.
- 6Day 0
Ear of Dionysius: A Name With a Date
Viale Giulio Emanuele Rizzo, Syracuse
A tall S shaped cave with a famous but doubtful name. The name is a few centuries old.
- 7Day 0
Nymphaeum Terrace: Architecture in the Negative
Via dei Sepolcri, Syracuse
A rock terrace above the theatre with a water cave. It shows how a quarry became a city.
- 8Day 0
Greek Theatre: A King's Name in the Stone
Via dei Sepolcri, Syracuse
The Greek theatre cut into the hillside, rebuilt by King Hieron. His family is named in the stone, and the walk ends here.
Meeting point
Roman Amphitheatre, Siracusa Parco Archeologico della Neapolis, Via Luigi Bernabò Brea, Siracusa, Sicilia, IT
Pick up
Pickup is not provided.
Cancellation policy · Neapolis Archaeological Park Siracusa Self-Guided Audio Walk: Roman Amphitheatre, Ear of Dionysius and Greek Theatre
Standard Viator policy
- Cancellation 0–24 hours before departure: 100% cancellation fee.
- Cancellation 24–24000 hours before departure: 0% cancellation fee.
Good to know
Operated by Roamer and sold by AGORA. Your voucher and booking reference arrive by email straight after payment.