Selinunte and Segesta
Valley of the Temples – Selinunte and Segesta
Western Sicily is ready to astonish you because of the majesty of the Valle dei Templi of Agrigento, with the archaic charm of the archeological Selinunte Park and the ancient of the town of Segesta. Three authentic treasures to discover.
Rent a villa in Sicily and discover these beauties, excursion after excursion, a journey between ancient past and perfect present in Valley of the Temples – Selinunte and Segesta.
Western Sicily boasts an outstanding collection of invaluable evidence of the greatness of the Greek empire in Sicily. Three main archaeological sites can be found in the area: the world-famous Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the archaeological park of Selinunte, near the town of Castelvetrano, and the ancient city of Segesta, in the countryside between Trapani and Palermo, near the district of Calatafimi.
If you can’t make it to visit all three sites, it’s not easy to recommend you one. However, the most visited one is the Valley of the Temples – Selinunte and Segesta indeed, one of the most famous and appreciated symbols of the whole island. The archaeological park is located where the ancient city of Akragas was built (the modern city, however, is set on a hill a few minutes from the park) in 581 BC; as one of the most important cities of Magna Grecia, Akragas was prosperous and florid as the amazing collection of temples and other remains well testifies. Ten very well-preserved Doric temples can be observed within the Valley:
the most intact and impressive is the Temple of Concordia, while the Temple of Zeus Olimpio was with no doubt the biggest Greek temple of the whole ancient western world.
A large number of Greek, Roman and Early Christian necropolis, three sanctuaries, the upper and lower “agora”, part of a Hellenistic settlement and the tomb of tyrant Theron of Akragas can be found within the park.
A visit to this site is absolutely unforgettable, but it can get pretty wearing in summer: we recommend you consider a night visit to the site if you’re here in July or August, as the night breeze from the sea provides refreshment and the sight of temples at night is really fantastic.
Founded in 650 BC, Selinunte was a prosperous Greek city that unfortunately was not destined to last: as the westernmost Greek colony, it was probably harder to control and safeguard, and the wars against Segesta and the Carthaginians eventually led to its defeat only 240 years after its birth.
Nowadays, however, the site boasts a remarkable collection of Doric temples and other interesting remains, all set within a very fascinating landscape:
the acropolis is located on a chalky plateau overhanging the sea, while a noteworthy sacred compound is situated on the East Hill.
This compound houses the famous Temple of Hera (also called Temple E), probably built around 450-460 BC and re-constructed by using original material during the 1950s.
Most ancient buildings have been destroyed by several earthquakes during the Middle Ages; however, a huge number of invaluable remains can still be observed and the atmosphere in the site is really fascinating and evocative.
The site is not far from the district of Castelvetrano, most famous for its typical “black bread”, as well as to the lovely seaside suburbs of Marinella and Triscina, perfect for taking a refreshing bath after a visit to the archaeological park; picturesque restaurants located just next to the sandy beach serve delicious seafood recipes and tasteful local wine. Check for other beaches nearby on our page about golden beaches on the western shore.
The ancient city of Segesta, nowadays an archaeological park not far from Alcamo and Castellammare del Golfo, was founded by the very same Elymians that founded the beautiful Erice in the heart of the north-western countryside.
A pleasant and relaxing landscape made of verdant hills and valleys that hide a very-well-preserved Doric temple, probably built around the 5th Century BC, and a 4th-Century BC theatre located on top of Mount Barbaro, providing a beautiful view over the countryside and nowadays still used for theatre shows and plays during summer.
Fortifications and other remains can be found in the site; the theatre can be reached by climbing the Mount by feet or by bus (consider taking the shuttle bus if it’s a hot summer day and/or if you’re not used to trekking).