ARCHAEOLOGICAL AREA OF SEGESTE

On a hill, in the centre of a valley, stands an Elymian temple from the^5th century BC, a remnant of the capital of the indigenous people who would have settled here after their flight from Troy during the Greek conquest. According to Greek mythology, the Elymians are descended from Elymos, the illegitimate son of the goddess Aphrodite and the Trojan prince Anchises. Magnificently preserved, it is one of the finest examples of the Doric style that we can still admire. It alone justifies a stopover in the city. It seems, however, that it was never finished, as no trace of interior decoration has been found, and its columns are not fluted. From the top of Mount Barbaro, the Greek theatre can be seen, carved into the rock, in a superb setting formed by the depression of the Segesta Valley. It is possible to get there on foot but it is advisable to take the shuttle bus in the heat, as the two sites are 2 km apart. Quite well preserved, every two years this theatre becomes the stage for theatrical performances recalling the atmosphere of those centuries which saw the birth of the art of the stage during the high season in summer. Finally, a large sanctuary, dating from the 6th and^5th centuries BC, completes the archaeological area of Segesta, whose excavations are still far from being completed. For more information, you can find interesting books in the bookshop located at the bottom of the hill where the theatre stands, on the esplanade.