Discover Sicily

Sicily’s prime geographic location in theconquering Romans 50 years later. The ruins mostly
centre of the Mediterranean Basin has meant that,consist of floors, with some mosaics, the lower
over time, settlers and conquerors from the medievalportions of walls, with some murals, and some
Normans, Aragonese Spanish, Moorish North Africans,columns. While there is a small archaeological museum
ancient Greeks, Phoenicians, and Romans have comehere, most of the original artifacts are in the Palermo's
and, except for the latter, mostly, gone. Today, Sicily'sRegional Archaeological Museum.
Roman ruins are rivaled only by those in Rome, andTaormina
lovers of Roman archaeology will find a treasure troveThe Greek amphitheatre here, built in the third century
of sites to explore.BC, was expanded later by the Romans, who
To get an idea of the diversity of Sicily in ancient timesenlarged the stage. The view of Mount Etna and the
and particularly the range of artifacts from the Greeksea beyond the theatre is spectacular. During summer,
and Roman colonizations of the island, visit the Museothe theatre stages dramatic performances. A much
Archeologico Regionale in Palermo. One ofsmaller Roman theatre, the odium, is near Santa
Italy’s greatest archaeological museums, itCaterina church.
is filled with rare finds that put the multiple foreignTyndaris – Capo Tindari
occupations in perspective. As well, you’llTyndaris, founded by Dionysius the Elder in 396 BC,
have a chance to compare priceless artifacts fromand later destroyed by pillaging conquerors, has been
the island’s different civilizations, includingexcavated to display the ruins of everything from a
those from the Phoenician, Punic, Greek, Roman andbasilica to a Roman theatre. Overlooking the sea, the
Saracen periods. Listed here are some of the bestsetting here is magnificent.
Roman ruins in Sicily:Villa Romana del Casale – Piazza Armerina
Cape Boéo – MarsalaThis Roman villa, a few kilometers outside town, and
Roman ruins here include a villa with baths andbuilt between 330 and 360 AD, is one of the largest
colourful mosaics, and the Church of San Giovanni, builtsurviving classical-era Roman dwellings anywhere. The
over a cave converted into a home in Roman times.villa contains 40 rooms with western
The Baglio Anselmi Archeological Museum onEurope’s most magnificent mosaics
Lungomare Boéo exhibits ship from the Punicdepicting scenes from daily life, such as hunting, and
era.one mosaic of ten young women dressed in strapless
Cataniatwo-piece swim suits that could be in fashion today.
Catania has two Roman amphitheatres, oneNo archaeology lover’s trip to Sicily would
reminiscent of Rome’s Colosseum. Thebe complete without visiting the Valley of the Temples,
smaller one, off Via Vittorio Emanuele, built upon anthe largest and best collection of ancient Greek ruins in
earlier Greek theatre, accommodated 6,000the world. You’ll also see necropoli, houses,
spectators, while a larger amphitheatre, near thestreets and everything else you would expect to find
commercial centre in Piazza Stesicoro, is completelyin an ancient city. Be sure to check out the small
Roman and was built in the second century AD.amphitheatre, the several auditoria, and the first-rate
Solunto – Palermoarcheological museum. You can’t miss the
Seventeen kilometres east of Palermo, overlooking theConcord Temple with its with 13 tall, wind-eroded
coast, and on a site that was originally a Phoeniciancolumns. Set outside the city of Agrigento, on the
village that had been expanded by the Greeks in 396southern coast of Sicily, the temples look dramatic at
BC, are the ruins of a town that was rebuilt by thenight when floodlights accentuate their shape and form.