Certainly the most ancient Doric temple in Sicily. Dated to the beginning of the sixth century bC is therefore the oldest which correspond to Greek world architectural model: peripteral stone columns temple. Over time it had undergo several transformations: first of all became a Byzantine Church, still has its main staircase, and then was used as a Muslim mosque. Later was turned in the Norman church of the Savior, which in turn was incorporated into a sixteenth-century Spanish barracks again. All these constant changes have severely damaged the entire building during centuries. In 1860 Apollo Temple was rediscovered within the barracks, but was finally and fully revealed later, between 1938 and 1942, due to the excavation works carried out by the renowned archaeologist Paolo Orsi.
Originally there were six columns on short sides and 17 on long sides (whole structure m 58,10×24,50); the entire columns (shaft and capital) reach a total height of m 7,98. The upper part was covered with a stone roof, some of its fragments are still preserved at the Archaeological Museum “Paolo Orsi” in Siracusa. Furthermore inside the Museum it’s possibile to admire a minature model of Apollo temple with an accompanying video showing how it was internally.
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