Italy’s island of Sicily is known for its stunning beaches, traditional music, and the Godfather films. However, having been an ancient Athenian colony, it’s also home to some of the best-preserved Greek monuments in the entire Mediterranean region. If you are passionate about history and art and wish to see some mesmerising sites untouched by the crowds of tourists, plan a day trip to Selinunte, Segesta, Agrigento, Taormina, or Syracuse.
1) Selinunte
If you’re staying in Trapani, but getting slightly bored of the port chaos and thinking of escaping the town, there’s a great place for you south of where you are. Selinunte is a small town with a vast archaeological park, where you’ll see several neatly preserved temples and some of the most magnificent views Sicily can offer. The cerulean sea, green and golden meadows, and majestic remnants of the past are embracing, soothing, and meditative.
Known pretty much only to classicists and art historians, Selinunte is rarely graced by the presence of visitors, therefore, you won’t be disturbed while strolling around the sandy pathways. Bear in mind, however, that there will be quite a lot of walking involved: the archaeological park is enormous, and the distances between the temples tend to be quite long. At the end of the day, however, you will have experienced Sicily at its finest: rich history, amazing nature, and stunning sights, all are here.
If you decide to hire a car in Trapani, the drive will take you less than an hour. If, however, you plan to use public transport, the journey will be a bit more complex. First, you need to go to Castelvetrano (there are direct trains from Trapani) and then catch a bus to Selinunte, which, luckily, stops right in front of the railway station. It will take you straight to the entrance of the archaeological site. Do tell the driver where you’re going, so that he lets you know where exactly to leave the bus.
Selinunte Archaeological Park
Address: Strada Statale 115, 91022 Marinella di Selinunte, Castelvetrano TP, Italy
Price: 6 EUR (6.50 USD). Discounts are available for EU citizens under 25 or above 65
Opening Hours: 9 am - 4 pm in winter and 9 am - 7 pm in other seasons. Ticket office closes one hour earlier
Duration: From 1 to 4 hours (depending on how keen you are on walking and how interested you are in details)
Contact: +39 0924 46277
Website: Selinunte
Map Location
2) Segesta
Segesta is similar to Selinunte, in that it is a large archaeological site that is perfect for a long saunter. The setting, however, is much more dramatic. While Selinunte’s monuments overlook wide meadows and the peaceful surface of the sea, the temple of Segesta towers above a breathtaking, deep precipice. The area is filled with steep hills, which look stunning, but sometimes may be a bit daunting to climb. It is definitely worth the effort, though, for at the end of the trail you will find a greatly preserved Greek amphitheatre. Check out the acoustics; every word you utter on stage will easily reach the farthest row.
Segesta is most easily reached from Trapani. There are direct buses between the two, and the journey takes less than 30 minutes. It is also possible to travel to Segesta from Palermo, especially if you hire a car. The drive will take you approximately 1 hour. I do not recommend taking a train from Palermo. Even though there is a direct connection, the journey takes up to 3 hours, which is way too long for a day trip.
Segesta Archaeological Park
Address: Strada Provinciale 68, 91013 Contrada Barbaro, Calatafimi-Segesta TP, Italy
Price: 6 EUR (6.50 USD). Discounts are available for EU citizens under 25
Opening Hours: From Apr to June: 9 am - 7.30 pm; from Jul to Oct: 8.30 am - 7.30 pm; from Oct 1st to Oct 31st: 9 pm - 6 pm; from Nov to Mar: 9 am - 5 pm
Duration: Around 1 - 4 hours, depending which parts of the park you want to visit
Contact: info@segestawelcome.com, +39 0924 952356
Website: Segesta Archaeological Park (English version at the bottom of each page)
Map Location
3) Agrigento
Agrigento is one of the most famous Greek archaeological sites in the entire Mediterranean region. A prominent city in the olden times (during the Greek reign it was known as Acragas), it is now loved by tourists and frequented daily by hundreds of people. Not only is it home to magnificent temples and a great museum, but it also attracts contemporary artists, who display their works and installations amidst the ancient ruins. One of the artworks exhibited permanently on the site is ‘Fallen Icarus’ by acclaimed Polish sculptor Igor Mitoraj, a touching testimony to man’s limitations. The figure is placed in front of the entrance to the splendid Temple of Concordia, which still fully retains its ancient shape, thus, being one of the best preserved Greek monuments in our times.
Similarly to other Sicilian archaeological parks, the Valley of Temples in Agrigento stretches across a vast area, so prepare yourself for a long, but fascinating walk. If you feel tired at any point, you can take a rest in the shade of an almond tree – there’s plenty of them growing around the temples.
There are buses and trains to Agrigento from nearly every big city in Sicily, with Palermo being the most convenient departure point (the journey takes around 2 hours). The Valley of Temples is quite far from the railway station, but consider taking a walk, as the views on the way are marvellous. If, however, you don’t feel like walking, there are several local buses operating between the station and the park.
La Valle Dei Templi
Address: 92100 Agrigento, Province of Agrigento, Italy
Price: 10 EUR (10.90 USD) for the park only and 13.50 EUR (14.70 USD) for the park and the museum
Opening Hours: Via Sacra and the Temple of Zeus: 8.30 am - 7 pm; other areas: 8.30 am - 5 pm
Duration: 2 - 5 hours, depending which parts of the park you visit and how detailed your tour is
Contact: parcodeitempli@regione.sicilia.it +39 0922 621657
Website: The Valley of the Temples
Map Location
4) Taormina
If you’re spending your vacation in Catania or Messina, consider a day trip to Taormina, a medieval town in the vicinity of Etna, one of Europe’s mightiest volcanoes. Take a stroll amidst the romantic scenery of cobbled streets. You won’t be the first to be amazed by their beauty; in the past decades, these trails were frequented by legends like Elizabeth Taylor, Tennessee Williams, and Bertrand Russell.
While in Taormina, do go to the local Greek theatre, which may be the most admirable monument of the kind in the entire island. Ancient Greeks knew how to use the natural landscape to their advantage. The architects of the theatre designed it so that the audience would not only see the performance, but also the natural spectacle of the smoking volcano. Sit in the stalls for a while, look towards the well-preserved stage decorations, and you’ll see Etna majestically towering in the background, and the clouds of smoke weaving into the sky.
There are regular trains and buses between Catania, Messina, and Taormina. If you choose the train, you will arrive at the station at the foot of the hill, around 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) from the town itself, however, there are local buses operating between the two.
Ancient Greek Theatre in Taormina
Address: Via del Teatro Greco, 1, 98039 Taormina ME, Italy
Price: 10 EUR (10.90 USD)
Opening Hours: Subject to change every month. For current opening hours check the website below
Duration: around 1 hour
Contact: +39 0942 23220 / +39 0942 24291
Website: TravelTaormina
Website: Current events at the theatre
Map Location
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5) Syracuse
If you’re a true lover of history, you’re going to enjoy every bit of Syracuse. A hub of ancient Greek science, it was home to the famous scientist Archimedes (the same who first shouted ‘Eureka!’ upon discovering buoyancy in his bath). Nowadays, the old lives together with the new. Ruins of Greek edifices are neighbours to modern households, parts of a huge ancient temple are incorporated into the medieval cathedral, and the 2,500-year-old amphitheatre is still used for performances.
You can start your journey through time with entering the archaeological area. Don’t worry, it’s so much more than just stones in the grass! Firstly, go to the enormous grotto, known as the ‘Ear of Dionysius’. It’s unforgettable not only because of its surprising shape, but mostly because of the remarkable acoustics of the place. You’ll surely hear some people singing, trying it out – their voices easily resound throughout the entire, vast space. Try it on your own, too, if you please – you’re more than welcome! Afterwards, enjoy the shade of lemon trees and go see the huge amphitheatre, one of the biggest in the Mediterranean.
The town itself is picturesque. The azure sea, medieval fortifications, and cosy streets hide many wonders. Make sure you see the fountain of the nymph Arethusa, full of papyrus reeds. According to ancient myth, the nymph escaped unwanted love advances by turning into streams of fresh water, and legend says that whoever takes a bath in the fountain renews his youth. If you love art, go to the church of Santa Lucia alla Badia in the town centre. You will find there a famous, touching painting by Caravaggio, ‘The Burial of St Lucy’. The saint herself is said to be buried in the vicinity of another Syracusean church, Santa Lucia al Sepolcro. You can also take a tour of the Castello Maniace Citadel, which offers some mesmerising views of the Ionian Sea.
The Archaeological Area in Syracusa
Address: Via Paradiso, 14, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy
Price: 10 EUR (10.90 USD). Discounts are available for EU citizens under 25
Opening Hours: From 9 am to 1 hour before sunset
Duration: around 2 - 3 hours required
Contact: +39 0931 66206
Website: SiracusaTurismo.Net: the Archaeological Park
Church of Santa Lucia Alla Badia
Address: Via Pompeo Picherali, 4, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy
Price: FREE
Opening Hours: 11 am to 2 pm daily
Duration: around 15 - 30 minutes required
Access: The church is located in the centre of Syracuse, in the direct vicinity of the Duomo (main cathedral)
Website: SiracusaTurismo.Net: Church of Santa Lucia Alla Badia
Map Location
Sicily: never-ending story
The ancient history of Sicily is fascinating and amazingly rich. These five places are stunning, but nonetheless they’re just introductory, and if you wanted to learn all about ancient Sicily, it would be a task for life. Do not forget, however, to enjoy other marvels of the island: a swim in the crystal-clear sea, scrumptious local food and wine, and the melody of the Sicilian dialect. One journey is too little to get enough of it.
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