L'Oasi di Salinunte Hotel & Resort

It's HOT, too

by effeti

Dress light and bring a lite hat, too Of course you need it. Too many things deserve a picture If you go during summer, don't forget to bring lots of water..... to drink it and to pour it on your head! When the visit is over, think of taking a bath in the sea just under the acropolis...(I did it exactly where the pictures, taken from acroplois, points. It was great!). So wear a swimsuit, too!

Selinunte, Sicilia

by hquittner

"AgrigentotoSelinunte"

We drove out of Agrigento heading west on S118 with a view of the Mediterranean on the left and little populated farmland around us;this was magnified by a back-road detour.Our time schedule did not allow extra stops so we missed Eraclea Minoa and Sciacca. We turned off toward the sea (and Marinella) before Castelvetrano and signs led us to the East entrance to Selinunte.It was deserted. We paid our fees and were told there was a second area to see by car after this one. We confirmed this with our own data (nothing was provided) and headed out onto a large upland plateau.In the distance were hills to the left and ahead structures.Selinunte was a colony from Megara Hybleae (which we had visited 1 wk earlier) founded in 650BC. It rapidly became successful. Its destruction was begun by Hannibal in 406BC and finished by earthquakes.

"The Eastern Zone"

The temples that we encountered on the East plateau are about 0.5 km from the ticket office. This area took about 1 hr to explore. The temples are E-W oriented and all go by letters since the correct deities are not certain. The first one (E) was started after the ones further W on the Acropolis and is the best restored of them all. The second one(F) is almost undistinguishable and is the oldest. The third (G) is alsost as immense as the Temple of Zeus in Agrigento. Some metopes were found at these temples and they are exhibited in Palermo as major treasures.

"On to the Acropolis"

We returned to our car and drove along the sea 1.5 km west (the only road) to another parking area below a large wall (see pictures). With the sea to the left we walked uphill and further west past a caretaker house and an altar and the base of a temple(A). Across this road was another temple base and stones(B) and rearing up at the top of the hill 12 standing columns and some connecting stones (C). We were on the main street of the Acropolis! Back east in the distance was Temple E.We explored the area as much as our time would allow. We were not secure about climbing into the structures since nobody was around. As a result we probably missed many details, and did not get into Temple C. Perhaps others can contribute much more detail about this.It is a fascinating spot. The unspoiled seashore and the ruins plus a nearby small "vacation town"make this a place for the young and adventurous to enjoy. However I think not in midsummer!.This is truly an off the beaten path wonder.We spent 1 hr. here but could have spent more if time had permitted.