5 Must-See Sicilian Archeological Wonders

PALERMO, Italy - April 4, 2013 - PRLog -- If  you are traveling to Italy, you have a plethora of beautiful places to see, and  lots of difficult, but fun decisions to make. Every region of Italy has a lot  to offer when it comes to natural beauty, history, arts, and ancient monuments.  Sicily is an especially beautiful region to rent a villa in Sicily (http://www.dimoras.com/destinations/27_rentals_in_Sicily/) ahead of time to  avoid stress.
1.  Selinius (Selinunte in Italian)
Located  on the southwestern coast of the Island, on a 30 meter plateau above sea level,  Selenius was once one of the most important Greek colonies in Sicily. Founded  in 700 BCE, it is the site of five ancient temples as well as an acropolis, all  very well preserved until the present day. When you visit this ancient city,  you will feel that you have been transported to the Acropolis in ancient times.  The most remarkable ruins of Selinius are the three temples on the hill to the  east, which were not included in the city itself, but were instead built on the  edge of the city to display the city’s power to its neighbors. The sculptures  that one can observe at Selinius had great influence on Greek sculpting style,  and are universally recognized as being among the first pieces of Greek  sculpture that still exist today.

2.  Segesta
Segesta  was the most important city of the indigenous Sicilian people known as the  Elymians. This ancient city constantly experienced boundary disputes with  Selenius from 580 BCE on. Culturally, Segesta was Greek, and inscriptions on pottery  show that the local dialect was written with the Greek alphabet. Segesta became  a free territory under Roman rule, but by the late 2nd century CE,  it was abandoned. The main things to see here are the Doric temple, built in  about 430 BCE and the Amphitheater, built by the Greeks in 400 BCE. The Doric  temple is rather unique because it never had a roof over the main chamber. Scholars  disagree on whether the temple was deliberately planned in this way or not.

3.  Tindari
Tindari  stood on a hill, the southern side of which is still protected by its original  Greek walls. However, most of the remains of this ancient city are located on  the northwestern side of the hill, which faces the sea. This archeological site  is truly a fantastic place to visit because it has been preserved so well. You  can see what it was like for the Romans who lived here by taking a walk through  their homes and baths, and getting a look at the mosaics that have remained,  even after thousands of years.  Because  this is a popular destination, it is quite well-marked, which is saying a lot  for Italian historical sites. Before planning a trip to Sicily, check the  calendar of events of the Tindari archeological site because sometimes Greek  plays and other theatrical events are performed there.
Tindari  is also famous for the Sanctuary of the Black Madonna. The sanctuary houses a  Byzantine statue, which is accompanied by a beautiful local legend. According  to the legend, it was brought from Constantinople in the 8th century  and the ship that carried t was forced to land at Tindari because of bad  weather. It was left in the abbey for safekeeping, where it remained. This  statue of the Madonna holds the inscription “nigro sum sed Formosa” meaning  “Black am I, but beautiful.”
4.  The Theater of Taormina
A  Greek theater built in 700 BCE, this is the most remarkable monument that  remains in Taormina. The ruins of Taormina are well-worth a visit because it is  well-preserved and it is found among truly breathtaking scenery. It is unique  also because it is built all from brick, indicating that it is from Roman  times, but it is built according to a Greek plan. Therefore the current  structure was probably built upon the foundations of an older Green theater.  This archaeological site is also used for theatrical performances and concerts  today.

5.  Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples
This  is a must-see if you plan to visit Sicily. The area was Greek settlement 2,500  years ago, and the remains of the temples are quite extensive. The park  consists of eight temples, as well as other remains, all built between in the 5th  and 6th century BCE: the  Temple of Hera, the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Heracles, the Temple of  Olympian Zeus, the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the Temple of Hephaestos, the  Temple of Demeter, and the Temple of Asclepius (the God of Medicine).  These are the most extensive and  well-preserved ruins in Sicily and they certainly merit a visit.

for more informations

http://www.tourisminitaly.info/italy_regions/27_Sicily/