Siracusa - Latomia del Paradiso

The Latomia are ancient stone quarries which were worked from the sixth century B.C. onwards, and in the course of time were dug out over 20m/66ft down into the limestone.

The largest and best known of these quarries is the Latomia del Paradiso, which is reached by returning from the Greek Theater in Syracuse to the entrance to the archeological site and then going down to the left. Here there are two underground galleries, one of which is 60m/200ft long, 5 to 11m/16 to 36ft wide and 23m/75ft high, and because of its accoustics has been named "The Ear of Dionysios" (l'Orecchio di Dionisio); according to legend the tyrant Dionysios could stand at one end and listen to even whispered conversations of those imprisoned therein - the name "Ear of Dionysios" was first used by the artist Michelangelo Caravaggio.

The second gallery is the Cave of Ropes, Grotto dei Cordari, where rope-makers practiced their trade through the centuries; it is now closed off.