In the 5th century BC, Syracuse became the capital of a kingdom that included Gela and many other territories of Eastern Sicily. For the city it was a period of great wealth and growth, which the tyrant Gelo decided to celebrate with new districts and monuments. Neapolis was the heart of this urban expansion. It was founded with the twofold purpose of responding to the growing demographic pressure, and flaunting the power of Syracuse with imposing and majestic buildings. In correspondence with a part of this ancient district, there is now an archaeological park that preserves and enhances the value of monuments from the Greek and Roman ages. Built as a product of ancient urbanization, these monuments have been saved from the threat of modern development. This guide leads visitors through the Parco Archeologico della Neapolis, which has some of the most important monuments of the ancient Mediterranean, such as the Theatre, where plays by Aeschylus were performed, the famous Latomìe, including the Ear of Dionysus, the Cave of the Cordari, the Roman Amphitheatre and the Altar of Hieron II.
