The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Syracuse, Italy

Home to the miraculous Basilica of Our Lady of Tears, Syracuse offers pilgrims a profound encounter with Marian devotion and modern Catholic miracles in historic Sicily.

Where the Apostle Paul once preached to the first Christians of the Western world, where a young virgin named Lucy chose martyrdom over compromise, and where a humble plaster image wept human tears in 1953—Syracuse stands as a city where sacred history spans three millennia. On the ancient island of Ortygia, pilgrims can walk through the massive Doric columns of a fifth-century BC Greek temple that Bishop Zosimus transformed into a cathedral dedicated to the Nativity of Mary, creating one of Christianity's most extraordinary architectural palimpsests. The city that Cicero called "the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all" has witnessed the full sweep of salvation history. St. Paul stopped here for three days on his voyage from Malta to Rome around AD 61, preaching in what would become the Crypt of St. Marcian. The virgin martyr Lucy, born to a noble Syracusan family, was executed here during the Diocletian persecution in AD 304, her body eventually carried to Venice but her spirit forever animating her native city. And in the modern era, Syracuse became the site of a miracle that the Sicilian bishops authenticated in record time: the weeping of a simple plaster Madonna in the home of Angelo and Antonina Iannuso, drawing millions of pilgrims to what is now the towering Basilica Sanctuary of Our Lady of Tears.

📜 History & Spiritual Significance

Christianity's roots in Syracuse reach back to the apostolic age itself. According to the Acts of the Apostles, when Paul was shipwrecked on Malta and then continued his journey to stand trial before Caesar in Rome, "we landed at Syracuse, where we stayed three days" (Acts 28:12). St. John Chrysostom affirmed that Paul preached publicly during this brief sojourn, making Syracuse arguably the first place in the Western world to hear the Gospel proclaimed by an apostle. The site of his preaching, according to ancient tradition, was the burial place of St. Marcian, the first bishop of Syracuse, who had been sent by St. Peter himself around AD 44 and was later flogged to death at a pillar that still stands in the crypt bearing his name. The most beloved saint of Syracuse is undoubtedly Lucy, whose name means "light" and whose feast day falls near the winter solstice when light returns to the Northern Hemisphere. Born around AD 283 to a noble Syracusan family, Lucy consecrated her virginity to Christ after her mother Eutychia was miraculously healed at the tomb of St. Agatha in Catania. When her spurned suitor denounced her as a Christian to the Roman governor Paschasius, Lucy stood firm in her faith. According to tradition, when soldiers attempted to drag her to a brothel, she became immovable—not even a team of oxen could budge her. She was tortured with burning oil, and tradition holds that her eyes were gouged out yet miraculously restored. Finally, she was killed by a sword thrust to the throat in AD 304. Her relics were eventually transferred to Constantinople and later to Venice, where they remain, though Syracuse still celebrates her with magnificent processions on December 13th. The Cathedral of Syracuse stands as a monument to the layering of sacred history. The tyrant Gelon built a magnificent Doric temple to Athena here in 480 BC, its golden shield visible to sailors far out at sea. In the seventh century, Bishop Zosimus transformed the pagan temple into a Christian basilica by the simple expedient of filling in the spaces between the columns with walls—the ancient pillars remain visible to this day, both inside and outside the church. The cathedral suffered under Arab rule, was rebuilt by the Normans, and received its current exuberant Baroque facade after the devastating 1693 earthquake. The most recent chapter in Syracuse's sacred history began on August 29, 1953, in a modest home on Via degli Orti. Antonina Iannuso, pregnant and suffering from severe toxemia that had caused temporary blindness, awoke at 8:30 in the morning to find her sight restored—and to see tears streaming down the face of a mass-produced plaster image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary that hung above her bed. The weeping continued, with witnesses, for four days. Scientists analyzed the liquid and confirmed it was chemically identical to human tears. On December 12, 1953—the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe—the Sicilian bishops unanimously declared the miracle authentic, an unusually swift recognition. Pope Pius XII himself addressed the phenomenon in a 1954 radio message, asking: "Will men understand the mysterious language of those tears?" Pope St. John Paul II consecrated the new basilica on November 6, 1994, calling the tears "a sign of the Mother's presence in the Church and in the world."

☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Syracuse

Syracuse's sacred sites are distributed between the ancient island of Ortygia, with its cathedral and baroque churches, and the mainland area near the archaeological park, where the catacombs, the Basilica of Our Lady of Tears, and the traditional site of St. Lucy's martyrdom are found. Pilgrims typically spend at least two days exploring the full range of Christian heritage.

Basilica Santuario Madonna delle Lacrime

Local Name: Santuario della Madonna delle Lacrime Address: Via del Santuario, 33, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy GPS Coordinates: 37.0747537, 15.2855387 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Website: madonnadellelacrime.it Dedication: Our Lady of Tears Historical Note: The basilica's distinctive 102-meter spire, designed by French architects Michel Andrault and Pierre Parat following an international competition, dominates modern Syracuse's skyline. Construction began in 1966, but the church was only completed and consecrated by Pope St. John Paul II in 1994. The controversial modern design—described variously as a teardrop, an ice-cream cone, or a shuttlecock—rises from foundations that unexpectedly contained a paleo-Christian mausoleum, discovered during construction and now visible in the lower level. Spiritual Importance: The miraculous image of the weeping Madonna is enshrined above the main altar, protected by glass. The sanctuary attracts pilgrims seeking healing and spiritual renewal, continuing the tradition that began when Antonina Iannuso, the first witness, was cured of her toxemia and gave birth to a healthy son on Christmas Day, 1953. Over 300 miraculous cures have been attributed to the Madonna's intercession. The lower level houses the Museum of the Lacrymation documenting the 1953 events, while a room filled with ex-votos—including abandoned crutches—testifies to answered prayers. An annual novena from August 25 to September 1 culminates in the feast day on September 1.

Syracuse Cathedral (Duomo di Siracusa)

Local Name: Cattedrale della Natività di Maria Santissima Address: Piazza Duomo, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy GPS Coordinates: 37.0590, 15.2934 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Dedication: Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Historical Note: Built within and around the fifth-century BC Temple of Athena, the cathedral represents one of Christianity's most remarkable architectural transformations. The massive Doric columns—six on the short sides, fourteen on the long sides—are clearly visible on the exterior left wall and within the nave, their fluting and pronounced entasis testifying to their ancient Greek origin. Bishop Zosimus converted the temple to a church in the seventh century; the Normans added the nave ceiling and apse mosaics; and Andrea Palma designed the magnificent Baroque facade between 1725 and 1753 after the earthquake of 1693. Spiritual Importance: The cathedral houses relics of St. Lucy, including bone fragments, a robe, veil, and shoes, displayed in the Chapel of St. Lucy. A silver statue of the saint, containing three fragments of her ribs within its chest, is carried through the streets on her feast day (December 13) and on the first Sunday of May. The Chapel of the Crucifix contains a thirteenth-century Byzantine crucifix, while the Madonna della Neve ("Madonna of the Snow," 1512) by Antonello Gagini graces the left aisle. The cathedral's ciborium was designed by the famous architect Luigi Vanvitelli.

Basilica di Santa Lucia al Sepolcro

Local Name: Santuario Santa Lucia al Sepolcro Address: Piazza Santa Lucia, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy GPS Coordinates: 37.0785, 15.2831 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Dedication: St. Lucy Historical Note: According to tradition, this church stands on the very spot where St. Lucy was martyred in AD 304. The original Byzantine-era church was vastly altered in the twelfth century and completely reconstructed in the seventeenth century. The current structure retains a Norman doorway, apses, and a fourteenth-century rose window. Adjacent to the basilica is an octagonal baroque chapel containing the empty tomb where Lucy's body lay before its removal to Constantinople in 1039. Spiritual Importance: The basilica houses Caravaggio's monumental Burial of St. Lucy (1608), his largest known canvas at 408 by 300 centimeters. The fugitive artist, fleeing a murder charge, created this masterpiece in just a few weeks while seeking protection in Syracuse. The painting depicts Lucy's fragile body being lowered into the catacombs, with two muscular gravediggers dominating the foreground—a revolutionary composition that influenced generations of artists. Visitors can illuminate the dark painting for €1 (4 minutes of light). The catacombs beneath the church, dating from the third century, can be visited on guided tours.

Catacombs of San Giovanni and Crypt of St. Marcian

Local Name: Catacombe di San Giovanni Address: Via San Giovanni alle Catacombe, 1, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy GPS Coordinates: 37.0764, 15.2826 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Historical Note: The second-largest catacomb system in the world after Rome, these underground galleries were carved from abandoned Greek aqueducts and contain an estimated 20,000 Christian burials from the fourth and fifth centuries. The ruined Church of San Giovanni above—destroyed by earthquakes in 1693 and 1908 but still consecrated—was Syracuse's cathedral for centuries. The Crypt of St. Marcian beneath it honors the city's first bishop, martyred by flogging at a pillar that still stands in the space. Spiritual Importance: According to ancient tradition, St. Paul preached at an altar in this crypt during his three-day stay in Syracuse around AD 61, making this one of the most sacred sites in Western Christianity. The altar and the opening through which pilgrims could touch St. Marcian's relics remain. Norman-era pillar capitals bear symbols of the four evangelists, while fragmentary Byzantine and medieval frescoes adorn the walls. Guided tours (required) take approximately 30 minutes and include a hard hat for the underground exploration.

Church of Santa Lucia alla Badia

Address: Piazza Duomo, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy GPS Coordinates: 37.0588, 15.2930 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Historical Note: This elegant Baroque church on Piazza Duomo, now deconsecrated and used for exhibitions, was built for the Cistercian nuns after the 1693 earthquake. Its airy interior and decorative elements make it an architectural gem in its own right. Spiritual Importance: The church once housed Caravaggio's Burial of St. Lucy and now contains a high-quality facsimile created by Factum Arte. A sixteenth-century painting of St. Lucy by Deodato Guinaccia hangs behind the altar.

🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations

December 13 – Feast of St. Lucy (Santa Lucia) Cathedral of Syracuse to Basilica di Santa Lucia al Sepolcro. Syracuse's most elaborate religious celebration begins on December 9 when the silver statue of St. Lucy is displayed in the cathedral. On December 13, a solemn procession lasting several hours carries the statue and relics through the city to the Basilica di Santa Lucia al Sepolcro, accompanied by twelve cilii (large wooden candelabras decorated with flowers) and the Senate Carriage in eighteenth-century style. Thousands of devotees follow barefoot, holding lighted candles, crying "Siracusana jè!" ("She is a Syracusan!"). The saint remains at the basilica for eight days before returning to the cathedral on December 20, stopping at the Basilica of Our Lady of Tears and the hospital en route, with fireworks greeting her at Ponte Umbertino. August 29 – September 1 – Feast of Our Lady of Tears Basilica Santuario Madonna delle Lacrime. The anniversary of the miraculous weeping is celebrated with a novena beginning August 25, culminating in solemn Masses and devotions on September 1, the actual feast day. Special broadcasts enable worldwide participation.

🛏️ Where to Stay

Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: Via Vittorio Veneto, 93, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy 🌐 Website: algila.it 🔗 Booking: Book on Booking.com Elegant boutique hotel in a restored palazzo on Ortygia, walking distance to the cathedral and all historic sites. Des Etrangers Hotel & Spa ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: Passeggio Adorno, 10-12, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy 🌐 Website: desetrangers.it 🔗 Booking: Book on Booking.com Historic waterfront hotel with sea views, spa, and refined Sicilian hospitality. Grand Hotel Ortigia ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: Viale Mazzini, 12, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy 🌐 Website: grandhotelsr.it Luxury accommodation on Ortygia with elegant rooms and rooftop terrace views. Casa Luciana B&B 📍 Address: Via Roma, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy Welcoming family-run bed and breakfast offering comfortable rooms and Sicilian breakfast in the heart of Ortygia.

🚗 Getting There

By Air: Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), approximately 60 km north, is the nearest major airport with frequent domestic and international connections. Direct buses and trains connect to Syracuse (approximately 1 hour). Comiso Airport serves some low-cost carriers. By Train: Syracuse's train station connects to Catania, Messina, and other Sicilian cities via Trenitalia regional services. The journey from Catania takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. By Bus: Interbus and AST operate services from Catania airport and city center directly to Syracuse. SAIS buses connect to Palermo (approximately 4 hours). By Car: From Catania, take the E45/SS114 south along the coast (approximately 1 hour). From Palermo, take the A19 then A18 (approximately 3 hours). Parking on Ortygia is limited; use the mainland parking areas and walk or take a shuttle to the island. Local Transport: Ortygia is best explored on foot. The Basilica of Our Lady of Tears, Catacombs of San Giovanni, and Basilica di Santa Lucia al Sepolcro are on the mainland, approximately 1-2 km from Ortygia, accessible by bus or a pleasant walk.

📚 Further Reading

Books:

  • Jeremy Dummett, Syracuse, City of Legends – Comprehensive guide to the city's history from Greek times to the present.
  • John Julius Norwich, Sicily: An Island at the Crossroads of History – Accessible history including Syracuse's role in Mediterranean civilization.
  • Jacobus de Voragine, The Golden Legend – Medieval hagiography containing the story of St. Lucy.

Articles & Online Resources:

🎥 Recommended Videos

🔗 Useful Links

✝️ Closing Reflection

"Will men understand the mysterious language of those tears? Oh, the tears of Mary! Upon Golgotha they were tears of compassion for her Jesus and of sadness for the sins of the world. Does she cry again for the renewed wounds produced in the Mystical Body of Jesus?"

— Pope Pius XII, radio message on the Weeping Madonna of Syracuse (October 17, 1954)

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For current Mass times, catacomb tour schedules, and pilgrimage services, pilgrims are encouraged to contact the Archdiocese of Siracusa or visit the official sanctuary websites.