Syracuse (; , ; ; ; ,
Syrakousai;
medieval ) is a historic
city in
Sicily, the
capital of the
province of Syracuse. The city is notable for its rich
Greek history,
culture,
amphitheatres,
architecture, and as the birthplace of the preeminent
mathematician and
engineer Archimedes. This 2,700-year-old city played a key role in ancient times, when it was one of the major powers of the
Mediterranean world. Syracuse is located in the southeast corner of the island of Sicily, right by the Gulf of Syracuse next to the
Ionian Sea.