The Church
of San Nicolò dei Cordari
The Church
An Ancient Church above the Roman Pools
The Church of San Nicolò dei Cordari, built in the Norman period, stands above the Roman Pool, a large rock-cut water reservoir that was part of the ancient water system of Syracuse. This structure, possibly already used for sacrificial rites near the Altar of Hieron II, supplied the Amphitheatre in Roman times and was used for naumachiae, spectacular mock naval battles. The architecture of the church is simple and solemn, with a single nave and a semicircular apse. Narrow slits along the walls create a mystical atmosphere by filtering natural light. The name “Cordari” derives from the guild of rope makers, who had their place of worship here.
The Church of San Nicolò dei Cordari stands on a site previously occupied by an early Christian basilica. In 1093, the church hosted an important historical event: the funeral of Jordan of Hauteville, son of Count Roger I of Sicily. The Normans dedicated the church to Saint Nicholas of Myra, protector of sailors and symbol of the struggle against the Arabs, invoked by the northern people during the reconquest of the city.
FROM THE CORD MAKERS TO THE PLAGUE
In 1577, the church was granted to the guild of cord makers, artisans who produced ropes by working in the latomiae of Neapolis, located just beyond the building.
From then on, it was known as San Nicolò ai Cordari or San Nicolò dei Cordari. In later periods, the church was used as a grain storage facility, while its underground spaces were converted into a mass grave during the plague epidemic of the 1600s.
ARCHITECTURE AND RESTORATION
From an architectural point of view, the church has a rectangular plan measuring 16 x 8 metres, characterized by a sober and austere style.
It features two pointed-arch portals, one main and one lateral, while the semicircular apse, decorated with a simple terminal cornice, represents the only ornamental element of the walls. Narrow arched windows open in the apse, filtering light into the interior in a striking way.
In the 1990s, restoration work led to the discovery of Roman-period burials dating from the 1st to the 3rd century AD beneath the church floor. These findings confirm the antiquity and historical stratification of the site, bearing witness to the continuity of worship and burials in this area.
USEFUL INFO
Location:
Via Luigi Bernabò Brea, Syracuse.
Ticket Office Opening Hours:
(Winter) January – February – March: Closed
(Summer) From April to October: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm / 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
(Closed on sunday)
Available services:
- Paid admission;
- Mandatory guided tour in Italian/English by reservation;
- Easy entrance for disabled people
Contacts
info@secretsiracusa.it
For general information
+39 093164694
Mon–Sun 9:30 am – 12:30 pm / 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
For groups and agencies
+39 09311561472
Mon–Fri 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
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