| The church of San Giovanni to the catacombs of Syracuse still, traces of that charm that pushed the 700 passengers and dell'800 to visit.
For a long time in this church was recognized 1'antica Syracuse cathedral, built in Acradina, extra moenia in the region of the Catacombs, the place where, according to tradition, was buried the protovescovo Syracuse, St. Marciano, and martyred under Gallienus Valerian (mid-third century), but recent studies have eroded this hypothesis.
The south facade of the church which can be seen, destroyed by the earthquake in 1693 (rovinò Great Basilica), and rebuilt in'700 with significant changes in the same facade and porch for the reconstruction which were used elements fifteenth. A note left hand, the old facade marked by Norman rose window and decorated by the portal.
In this same place stood age latomia a classical Greek, in which the late Hellenistic age was installed a factory of potters relevant to a pagan worship. While in late imperial age area became a Christian cemetery in use until at least 423. Around the mid-sixth century (perhaps in relation to the residence of Pope Vigilio in Syracuse) the burial ground was tampered with to make room for the crypt of St. Marciano had to accept that the sarcophagus with the relics of the saint. Just above the crypt was built the church apse, three aisles, divided by 12 Doric columns of type (with reference to the apostles), so that the burial of the Holy was in line with 1'altare as the centrepiece of the aisle, limited by a balustrade.
After the likely ravages of age Arab, the church underwent innovations with remaking perimeter walls, with half the extension of the pillars dell'abside and facade, reducing to 10 the number of columns and tilting the floor in the direction of the facade.
In 1428, addossata the north wall, built a rectangular chapel, preceded by porch. Falling into disuse in 1630 was granted to the Carmelites of Montesanto that inserirono within a new structure differently oriented (N-S) which occupied the space of the first two spans of the existing.
The earthquake in 1693 caused serious damage repaired in 1705-6, when it was rebuilt with material bare the porch today.
A scale of the crypt of San Marciano, where in 61 would have the Apostle Paul preached, is the tomb of the Holy masonry, with the small opening through which one could access the contact with the sacred relics, there is at the centre an altar surrounded by 4 columns. During Norman central space around the altar was amended by 4 pillars that have incorporated the capitals with the symbols of the Evangelists and inscriptions of the Gospel. It also accomplished the pavement, flaps which are still visible. The walls have rovinatissime traces of paintings, which in the north said that the two Alessandre. From the floor of the Basilica it descends to the left to visit the Catacombs of St. John, the latest among siracusane (315-360), and in use until the end of the fifth century. |
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