Timeline of Syracuse, Sicily
The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Syracuse, Sicily, Italy. Syracuse was the main city of Sicily from 5th century BCE to 878 CE.
Prior to 17th century
- 8th C. BCE – Settlement established by Corinthian Greeks.
- 663 BCE - Founded the settlement of Akrai.
- 643 BCE - Founded the settlement of Casmenae.
- 6th C. BCE – Greek Theatre of Syracuse built.
- 598 BCE - Founded the settlement of Kamarina.
- 498–491 BCE - Hippocrates of Gela threatened the independence of Syracuse.
- 491–478 BCE - Gelon is tyrant of Syracuse.
- 480 BCE - Gelon defeats Carthage at the Battle of Himera.
- 415–413 BCE – Syracuse besieged by Greek forces.
- 397 BCE - Siege of Syracuse (397 BC)
- 343 BCE - Siege of Syracuse (343 BC)
- 311-309 BCE - Siege of Syracuse (311–309 BC)
- 287 BCE – Birth of mathematician Archimedes.
- 278 BCE - Siege of Syracuse (278 BC)
- 214 BCE – Siege of Syracuse (213–212 BC) by Roman forces.
- 44 BCE – People of Syracuse gain Roman citizenship.
- 2nd–4th C. CE – Roman Catholic diocese of Siracusa established.
- 3rd C. CE – Death of bishop Marcian of Syracuse.
- 278–280 CE – Syracuse sacked by Franks.
- 304 – Death of Christian St. Lucia Of Syracuse during the Diocletianic Persecution.
- 535 – Syracuse taken by Belisarius of the Byzantine Empire.
- 668 – 15 September: Assassination of Byzantine emperor Constans II.
- 827-828 - Siege of Syracuse (827–828).
- 877–878 – Siege of Syracuse (877–878) by Aghlabid forces.
- 1088 – Syracuse besieged by forces of Roger I of Sicily.
- 1140 – Earthquake.
- 1239 – Castello Maniace built.
- 1397 – Palazzo Montalto built on Ortygia island.
- 1448 – Unrest.
- 1542 – Earthquake.
17th–19th centuries
- 1608 – Caravaggio paints "Burial of St. Lucy" in the Santa Lucìa alla Badìa, Siracusa.
- 1633 – Palazzo Vermexio built.
- 1673 – Porta Ligny built.
- 1693 – 1693 Sicily earthquake.
- 1710 – 9 November: Naval Battle of Syracuse (1710) fought near city during the War of the Spanish Succession.
- 1753 – Cathedral of Syracuse built.
- 1757 – Earthquake.
- 1779 – Palazzo Beneventano del Bosco rebuilt.
- 1790 – Maritime navigation school established.
- 1847 - Fountain of Arethusa remodelled into current form
- 1854 – built.
- 1860 – 1 August: Forces of Garabaldi arrive in city.
- 1861 – Population: 19,590.
- 1862 – Syracuse Chamber of Commerce established.
- 1865 – Province of Syracuse created.
- 1867 – Biblioteca comunale founded.
- 1870 – Gazzetta di Siracusa newspaper begins publication.
- 1871
- * Siracusa railway station opens.
- * Messina–Syracuse railway begins operating.
- 1880 – Tamburo newspaper begins publication.
- 1881 - Population: 21,739.
- 1886
- * Siracusa–Gela–Canicattì railway begins operating.
- * Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Siracusa opens.
- 1892 – opens at the.
- 1897
- * opens.
- * Population: 25,740.
20th century
- 1907 – installed in Piazza Archimede.
- 1911 – Population: 40,835.
- 1915 – begins operating.
- 1920 – Giornale di Siracusa newspaper in publication.
- 1924
- * 13 August: Benito Mussolini visits city.
- * A.S. Siracusa formed.
- 1928 – Strada statale 115 Sud Occidentale Sicula opens.
- 1932 – Stadio Nicola De Simone opens in.
- 1934 – Palazzo delle Poste built.
- 1938
- * industrial railway station begins operating.
- * construction begins at Piazza dei Cappuccini.
- 1941 – Bombing of Syracuse during World War II begins.
- 1943: 9–10 July: City taken by British forces.
- 1948 – Bellomo Palace Regional Gallery opens.
- 1950 – Augusta-Priolo petrochemical complex begins operating near city.
- 1951 – Population: 66,090.
- 1953
- * allegedly occurs, according to tradition.
- * Syracuse Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery established near city.
- 1960
- * begins.
- * opens.
- 1961 – Population: 83,205.
- 1963 – Archivio di Stato di Siracusa active.
- 1990 – 13 December: 1990 Carlentini earthquake occurs.
- 1991 – Population: 125,941.
- 1994 – built.
- 1996 – U.S. Siracusa active.
- 1999
- * established.
- * becomes mayor.
21st century
- 2005 – Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- 2008 – becomes mayor.
- 2009
- * April: meeting of environmental leaders held in city.
- * opens.
- 2013
- * June: Italian local elections, 2013 held.
- * 20 September: 400+ refugees of the Syrian Civil War arrive at port of Syracuse.
- * becomes mayor.
- * Siracusa Calcio football club active.
- * Population: 118,644.
- 2015 – Regional created.