The ancient city of Segesta, only an hour drive west of Palermo, is home to one of the most well-preserved archaeological sites in the region.
When you get your ticket at the office, you head into the park by taking a short path up a slight incline to the Temple. As you round the corner? Whoa! It’s quite impressive. If you click on our video below you’ll see what I mean.
Below are the highlights, but the park is huge and there’s a multitude of small buildings to explore and admire. You could easily spend the entire day here.
The Temple of Segesta
This 5th century Temple, which sits on a hill overlooking the city, is one of the best-preserved Doric temples in the world. It’s a real stunner, constructed entirely from local limestone and, remarkably, all forty of its columns are still standing. In addition, from the back of the temple you get a great view over the valley below.
The Ancient Theater
Another impressive structure in Segesta is the 3rd century BC theater. At the time, the theater accommodated up to 4,000 people and was used for plays, music and other cultural events. The view from the theater is extraordinary and we had a view of the entire valley below. I couldn’t help but imagine myself watching a play or listening to a concert before the birth of Jesus. Amazing.
Also Be Sure to Check Out
You can also explore the remains of the city’s ancient walls and gates. The limestone walls were built in the 5th century to protect the city from invaders. The gates were constructed in a horseshoe shape and featured towers on either side. Today, visitors can walk along the walls and imagine what life was like for the ancient residents of Segesta.
In addition to its impressive archaeological sites, Segesta is also home to a small museum. The museum features exhibits on the history and culture of the Elymian people as well as displays of pottery, jewelry and other artifacts. It’s worth a visit.
A Little History
Segesta has a long and fascinating history that dates back to the 6th century BC. The city was founded by the Elymian people, who were a non-Greek population that inhabited western Sicily. The Elymians were likely of Indo-European origin and are believed to have arrived in Sicily during the Bronze Age.
The city quickly became a prosperous center of trade and commerce thanks to its strategic location on the trade routes between eastern and western Sicily.
The Greeks
In the 5th century BC, Segesta was involved in a conflict with the nearby Greek city of Selinunte. The two cities fought a series of battles that ultimately resulted in the destruction of Selinunte in 409 BC.
But Segesta continued to thrive as a center of culture and commerce. In the 4th century BC, the city entered into an alliance with Carthage, a powerful city-state that controlled much of the western Mediterranean. Then, in 307 BC, Segesta was once again invaded by the Greeks. This time they came from Syracuse and were led by the famous general Agathocles. The city was sacked and its inhabitants were enslaved.
Still, somehow, Segesta was able to recover from this devastating blow and it continued to flourish as a center of trade and commerce.
The Romans
During the Roman period Segesta became a Roman ally and was granted a measure of autonomy. Many of the city’s most impressive structures, including the well-preserved temple and theater, were built during this period.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, Segesta began its decline and was conquered by a series of invaders, including: the Vandals, the Ostrogoths and the Arabs. The city was eventually abandoned in the 9th century AD and was left to decay.
The Buzz?
Visiting Segesta is a must see for anyone interested in ancient history and architecture. It was a lot of walking, and a fair amount of it is uphill — but here’s a Pro Tip. If you’re not in the mood for a lot of walking? Or it’s a really hot day? When you buy your park pass, pay the extra 2 euros for the bus ticket. This way you can take the bus up and down the road to the top of the park. It’s a pretty steep walk and you’ll be glad you paid the money.
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