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Like the obstinate child clutching and grabbing at the door jambs, not wanting to leave, we make our way to Ortigia one last time. Our stay in Siracusa is coming to an end and as to wring as much out of this beautiful city by the southern Mediterranean sea as possible, we set our sights on the Piazza Duomo, Siracusa edition. Because, after all, which Italian city of medium size and up does not have one of those?

Siracusa’s Piazza Duomo is somewhat special, however. Yes, of course it has a cathedral and we even in a moment of theological weakness ponied up some change to go in. While the insides have some merit in the sense that to the layperson, it appears as if the cathedral have (at least) two different ages. By that I mean the inner areas of worship feel relatively younger than the outer supporting columns, some of which are no longer even intact and as a result those walls are now supported by really contemporary structures, while still showing the original remaining columns. Again, from a non-historian’s point of view, it made for a rather interesting interior. Now, if only I thought to photograph it…

Meanwhile, back out in the Piazza, the late afternoon sun was gliding lazily across sky behind the scattered clouds and in so doing created a rather bizarre effect. For when coupled with the acoustics (for which the sun surely cannot take credit), despite clearly being outside when on the steps of the cathedral, I couldn’t shake the impression of being indoors. The light and the way the echoes were subtly muffled, transported me in time and space (well in space anyway), to a place no other than the mall-level at the Venetian in Las Vegas, NV. While not exactly visually similar in a brick-for-brick sense, the parallels were striking. I suppose this is kudos to the designers and builders of said American establishment for being able to create an atmosphere that I experienced, not in Venice certainly (that least favourite Italian destination of mine), but rather in an unsuspecting town in southern  Sicily. The original builders have created a, for me, unique architectural effect that contributes to this town’s overall appeal.

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The Cathedral floor was rustic, well worn and not without a certain unpretentious charm.

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