# Syracuse

> Italian municipality

**Wikidata**: [Q13670](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13670)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syracuse,_Sicily)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/syracuse

## Summary
Syracuse (officially *Siracusa* in Italian) is a historic municipality and city located on the island of Sicily, Italy. Founded around 733 BCE, it served as a major power in the ancient world and briefly as the capital of the Byzantine Empire. Today, it functions as the capital of the Free Municipal Consortium of Syracuse, covering an area of approximately 207.78 square kilometers with a population of roughly 116,244 as of 2023.

## Key Facts
*   **Official Name:** Siracusa.
*   **Classification:** Italian municipality (*comune*), city, big city, tourist destination, and ancient polis.
*   **Foundation:** Approximately 733 BCE (inception -0733).
*   **Location:** Sicily, Italy; coordinates 37.069°N, 15.2875°E.
*   **Elevation:** 17 meters above sea level.
*   **Area:** 207.78 square kilometers (as of October 9, 2011).
*   **Population:** 116,244 (as of January 1, 2023).
*   **Time Zone:** UTC+01:00 (Standard) / UTC+02:00 (Daylight Saving).
*   **Patron Saint:** Saint Lucy.
*   **Current Mayor:** Francesco Italia (term started June 27, 2018).
*   **Seismic Classification:** Zone 1 (referenced by Italian civil protection classifications).
*   **Postal Code:** 96100.
*   **License Plate:** SR.
*   **Dialing Code:** 0931.
*   **UN/LOCODE:** ITSIR.

## FAQs
**What is the history of Syracuse's governance?**
Syracuse has a complex political history, having been governed by the Byzantine Empire (twice, including a stint as capital from 663–668), the Vandal Kingdom, the Muslim Emirate of Sicily, the Kingdom of Sicily, and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, before joining the unified Kingdom of Italy on March 17, 1861.

**What are the demographic terms for people from Syracuse?**
Residents are known as *siracusano* (masculine singular) or *siracusana* (feminine singular). Plural forms include *siracusani* (masculine) and *siracusane* (feminine). English and other language variants include *Syrakusan* and *Syrakusanka*.

**Where is Syracuse located geographically?**
The city is situated on the eastern coast of Sicily, specifically on the physical feature of Ortygia. It shares borders with the municipalities of Avola, Melilli, Noto, Priolo Gargallo, Solarino, Canicattini Bagni, Floridia, and Palazzolo Acreide.

**What are the key statistical measurements of the city?**
As of the 2011 measurement, the city covers 207.78 square kilometers. Population records show fluctuations, such as 122,291 residents in late 2015 and 116,244 in early 2023. The city's coordinates place its northernmost point at 37.115°N and its southernmost at 36.947°N.

## Why It Matters
Syracuse is a significant entity in both ancient and modern contexts. Founded in the 8th century BCE, it evolved from a Greek colony into one of the major powers of the ancient Mediterranean, famously resisting siege during the wars of the classical era. Its historical importance is underscored by its inclusion in the "Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica" UNESCO World Heritage site. Culturally, it has been the subject of extensive academic documentation, appearing in the *Encyclopædia Britannica*, *Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary*, and the *Treccani* encyclopedia, while continuing to serve as a critical administrative capital and tourist destination in modern Italy.

## Notable For
*   **Ancient Foundation:** Established in -0733, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe.
*   **Imperial Capital:** Briefly served as the capital of the Byzantine Empire from 663 to 668 CE.
*   **Heritage Status:** Listed as part of the "Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica" World Heritage site.
*   **Historical Documentation:** Described by a vast array of historical encyclopedias, including *Meyer’s Universum* (1836) and *Meyers Konversations-Lexikon*.
*   **Strategic Location:** Located on Ortygia, serving as a key Mediterranean port city throughout history.
*   **Religious Significance:** The burial site and center of veneration for Saint Lucy.

## Body

### Administration and Government
Syracuse is the capital of the Free Municipal Consortium of Syracuse (established August 4, 2015), succeeding the Province of Syracuse (active 1865–2015). The city's government is led by a Mayor (*Sindaco*); the current head of government is Francesco Italia, who assumed office on June 27, 2018. Administratively, it is part of the Sicily region and the Italian Republic. The municipality maintains official twinning relationships with Stockholm, Corinth, Erchie, and Perugia.

### Geography and Environment
The city is located on the island of Ortygia and the mainland of Sicily. It has a total area of 207.78 square kilometers. The geographic boundaries are defined by specific coordinate points: the northernmost point is at 37.1156703°N, the southernmost at 36.9477054°N, the easternmost at 15.3367251°E, and the westernmost at 15.0829726°E. The city is classified in seismic zone 1 (the highest risk category) according to Italian civil protection data. It borders eight other municipalities: Avola, Melilli, Noto, Priolo Gargallo, Solarino, Canicattini Bagni, Floridia, and Palazzolo Acreide.

### Demographics and Culture
The population of Syracuse has shown gradual changes in the 21st century. Recorded figures include 122,291 (2015), 121,605 (2018), and 116,244 (2023). The native label for the city is *Siracusa*, pronounced with an audio guide available via Wikimedia Commons. The demonym for citizens includes *siracusano/siracusana* (Italian) and *Syrakusan* (English). The city has a diverse linguistic footprint with Wikipedia articles available in over 100 languages, including Italian, English, French, German, and Arabic. Saint Lucy is the recognized patron saint of the city.

### History
The city's political affiliation has shifted repeatedly over its nearly 2,800-year history. Key periods include:
*   **Ancient Era:** Founded in -0733, later part of Ancient Rome until 395 CE.
*   **Late Antiquity & Early Middle Ages:** Part of the Western Roman Empire (395–469), Vandal Kingdom (469–477), Ostrogothic Kingdom (493–535), and Byzantine Empire (535–878 and 477–493).
*   **Islamic & Norman Era:** Part of Muslim Sicily (878–1071), the County of Sicily (1071–1130), and the Kingdom of Sicily (1130–1816).
*   **Modern Era:** Part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (1816–1861) before joining Italy on March 17, 1861.
*   **Byzantine Capital:** Specifically noted as the capital of the Byzantine Empire from 663 to 668 CE.

The city has endured multiple significant events, notably the Siege of Syracuse, which is recorded nine times in the property data, indicating its strategic military importance.

### Identifiers and External References
Syracuse is cataloged in numerous international knowledge bases and library systems. Key identifiers include:
*   **International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI):** 0000000121586483
*   **VIAF ID:** 131280663 and 155400709
*   **GND ID:** 4106466-5
*   **GeoNames ID:** 6542286
*   **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n81018794
*   **Bibliothèque nationale de France ID:** 11956461n
*   **OpenStreetMap:** Relation ID 39169 and Node ID 1932675079.
*   **Academic References:** The city is indexed in Treccani, the Great Russian Encyclopedia, and Encyclopædia Britannica Online (id: place/Syracuse-Italy).

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. Italian National Institute of Statistics
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Czech National Authority Database
6. MusicBrainz
7. [Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/bilmens2016gen/index02.html)
8. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2018/index3.html)
9. [Source](https://www.tuttitalia.it/sicilia/78-siracusa/statistiche/popolazione-andamento-demografico/)
10. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2017. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2017/index3.html)
11. [Source](https://demo.istat.it/?l=it)
12. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
13. [Source](https://vici.org/vici/1913)
14. [Source](https://sjp.pwn.pl/so/syrakuzanin;4517162.html)
15. [Source](https://sjp.pwn.pl/so/syrakuzanka;4517163.html)
16. BBC Things
17. [Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011. Italian National Institute of Statistics](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224)
18. Wiki Loves Monuments Italia
19. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
20. [Source](https://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo/Syrakuzy;3982153.html)
21. GF WordNet
22. [Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands](https://biblio.hiu.cas.cz/records/8ae42a09-833f-482c-990d-27a556f507fe)
23. Seismic classification in Italy
24. [Source](https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/sismico/attivita/classificazione-sismica)
25. museum-digital