How to Enjoy the Best Ancient Greek Ruins in Sicily

Since 12,000 BC, Sicily has been inhabited, but it wasn’t until 750 BC that the Phoenicians and Greeks colonized this Mediterranean island. Fortunately for travelers like me and anyone who appreciates history, many of these preserved ancient structures or ruins of them have become prime travel destinations.

The largest and most notable of these are primarily located on the western side of Sicily. These include Agrigento, Selinunte, and Segesta. On Sicily’s eastern coast, Taormina boasts its ancient Greek theatre, and Siracusa is home to a Greek amphitheatre and other noteworthy archeological sites.

Agrigento (The Valley of the Temples)

A UNESCO World Heritage site in Sicily, the Valle dei Templi is one of the largest archeological sites in the world,at 1300 heactres, or 5 sqaure miles. According to UNESCO, it ranks “among the most extraordinary representations of Doric architecture in the world.”

The remains of seven temples are here, and when that first ancient Greek temple came into view, I was blown away.

The most preserved date back to the seventh century BC. The Temple of Concordia (See feaured photo at top of this post), ranks equally with the Greek temple of Hephaestos in Athens, considered to be the world’s best-preserved Greek temple.. For more photos, see a previous blog post, Travel in Sicily- The Valley of the Temples near Agrigento.

Selinunte

In the southwest corner of Sicily lies the the archaeological site of Selinunte. Once one of Sicily’s most important  Greek colonies, Selinunte dates back to 550 BC with five temples. AT the peak of its existence, Selinunte was home to 30,000 residents.After numerous wars, the city was destroyed and abandoned by the Carthaginians. and after a series of earthquakes, the city was Completely razed.

Amazingly, some people continued living here until 250 BC, when they were eventually transferred to Marsala, prior to the occupation by Rome. Selinunte was never reoccupied, except by the Arabs in the 13th century for a brief stint..

Today, it’s a tourist destination for those interested in ancient Greek ruins, although it’s less crowded than the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. When I visited in October of 2016, I appreciated the wide open spaces to walk amongst the temples with few people around.

Temple E is also known as the Temple of Hera, the Greek  goddess of women, childbirth, and fertility. This temple is one of the best preserved  temples at Selinunte..

Segesta

Only an hour away from Palermo, the Archaeological Park of Segesta is located on the site of the most important Elymian city in Sicily. The Elymians were one of three ancient indigenous tribes in western Sicily.

This Greek-Roman amphitheater can be reached by the shuttle bus that transports visitors through the archaeological park. Located on Mount Barbaro, 1000 feet above sea level,this 2nd century BC theater of Segesta once had a capacity of up to 4,000 spectators..Today 20 rows of intact seating are visible. From the perspective of this amazing example of a well-preserved ancient theatre, I  understand that the views from here are nothing short of spectacular..

At the top of a hill overlooking the Gulf of Castellammare, is an astonishingly well-preserved Doric temple. This ancient Greek structure was built around 420 BC and is recognized by many as the best surviving example of Doric architecture in Europe.

While there is speculation as to whether the Greeks actually lived here, one popular belief is that the Doric temple was built in the fifth century BC by an Athenian architect. The prevailing view is that it was built by the indigenous Elymians. Several missing elements from this temple suggest that  was never completed nor dedicated to any particular god or goddess. 

I have not yet been here, but it’s definitely on the list during my next trip to Sicily. Stay tuned.

Taormina

Teatro Greco,  the  Greek theater, dates back to the third century BC, and is one of the largest ancient amphitheatres in Sicily, second to the one in Siracusa. The Greeks, under the reign of Hiero II of Syracuse, carved this architectural masterpiece from the hillside. It was used as a theatre with the orchestra at the center and a seating capacity of 5000 spectators.

Today, the theatre still functions as a very active entertainment venue. It’s totally worth a visit. An added perk are the panorama views of Etna from inside the amphitheatre.

 

Read more about this amazing ancient theatre in a  previous blog post.Taormina’s Greek Theatre

Siracusa

Siracusa is home to several Greek ruins, including those of the the sixth century BC Temple of Apollo.

As soon as we crossed the bridge from mainland Siracusa onto the island of Ortigia, we found this ancient relic. I always think it is amazing to see structures that date back so far in time. Incredible.

Afterward we moved on to the mainland another section of Siracusa, where the Greek amphitheatre is located.

Too far to walk, we drove and paid the entrance fee to witness this ancient marvel from Greek times. Originally built in the fifth century BC, it was reconstructed two centuries later. Built right into the rock, what remains of the amphitheatre is quite impressive, as many of the original fifty-nine rows of seats are still present. At one time the theatre held 15,000 spectators.

Siracusa is definitely worth a day trip or more, especially if you are a lover of history. Just walking around on the ancient streets takes one back in time.

Have you visited any of these ancient ruins in Sicily? I always appreciate feedback and would love to hear your stories, so please leave a comment.

Grazie  Ciao

 

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