The Selinunte Archaeological Park in Castelvetrano

Selinunte Archaeological Park in Castelvetrano

The Selinunte Archaeological Park in Castelvetrano is considered one of the largest historical areas in Europe and for this reason every year it is a destination for many tourists who wish to immerse themselves in a fascinating historical period full of mystery. Here, then, is all the information that may be useful for organizing your visit to the Selinunte Archaeological Park in Castelvetrano.

History Selinunte Archaeological Park in Castelvetrano

The Selinunte Archaeological Park in Castelvetrano is an area that contains within itself the history of this place, from its origins to its destruction, which occurred at the hands of Hannibal. The historical finds that tell the story of the place testify that the foundation of Selinunte dates back to around 650-628 BC.
The settlers coming from Megara Hybleaunder the guidance of Pammilos, are looking for new commercial outlets and for this reason they arrive on the shores of Modione river where they founded the town giving it the name of Selinon, a name that indicates bee leaves, a type of parsley that grows luxuriantly in the locality. Until 420 BC the colony grew prosperous and many inhabitants of the surrounding areas decided to move here, also due to the lively commercial exchanges carried out by the colony. As the city grows, the Sanctuary of Malophoros but also the Acropolis, precisely to provide citizens with all the necessary services.

In 413 BC Selinunte grew significantly and began to come into conflict with the nearby colonies, in particular Segesta, which could count on the support of Athens and Carthage. In 409 BC the decisive battle took place which led to the defeat of Selinunte which was sacked and plundered of all its assets. In the XNUMXrd century BC under the yoke of the Carthaginians, part of the city was rebuilt but obviously the cults as well as the ways of life changed. It explodes I Punic War and the inhabitants of Selinunte hope to free themselves from Carthaginian domination, also thanks to the help of the Romans. In reality the Romans turned out to be worse than the Carthaginian rule: Selinunte was destroyed again and this time it would never be rebuilt again.

The architecture and any works of art present in the Selinunte Archaeological Park in Castelvetrano

Currently in the Selinunte Archaeological Park in Castelvetrano there are several places of interest, linked to the history and religion of the local inhabitants. Inside the archaeological area there are seven temples which are perfectly preserved: they are all in Doric style, like almost all religious constructions of the time. Then there is the sanctuary of Malophoros, the place of worship par excellence in the town, as well as a very well preserved necropolis.
From the point of view of civil architecture, however, the residential buildings that are present are those on the Manuzza hill where the buildings are organized according to the Hippodamian scheme. Finally, in the area there are also the Cave of Cusa, the place from which the materials that were used for the construction of all the buildings, both civil and religious, of Selinunte were taken.

What is possible to do in the surroundings or inside the Selinunte Archaeological Park in Castelvetrano

In addition to the beautiful archaeological area of ​​the Selinunte Park, in Castelvetrano you can also admire many other monuments and places of interest, to combine for a stay dedicated to culture and history. Lovers of the past and archeology will find in Selinuntino Civic Museum a small and intimate place but within which you can notice many artefacts that were found in the Park area.
Among the things not to be missed is, for example, the bronze statue of Ephebus.

In the immediate vicinity of Castelvetrano, then, there is also the Bellumvidere Castle, one of the places wanted by Frederick II of Swabia for his stay or for the defense of the area: in particular this was his hunting lodge. Directly in Castelvetrano, however, there is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, built around 1500, of particular importance because inside there are beautiful works of art from both the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Also the Church of San Domenico it is worth a visit: its construction dates back to 1470 and was born as a mausoleum of the noble Aragona-Tavaglia family who wanted it late Gothic style. Finally, nature lovers will find a trip to the Fume Belice Nature Reserve where you can also meet some specimens of the turtle Caretta Caretta.

How is it possible to get to Castelvetrano

Getting to Castelvetrano is really very simple and you have different means at your disposal. First of all, for those who want to use their own car or a rental one and come from Catania, it will be sufficient to take the A19 with its own exit at Castelvetrano. For those coming from Palermo, however, the reference motorway is the A29 while the exit is the same. For those who prefer the train, they can use the Castelvetrano station as a reference point, well connected to both Catania and Palermo. Finally, the locality can also be reached via a bus service which is provided by the Compagnia Prestìa and Comandé companies and which depart from Catania, Trapani and Palermo.

© Björn S., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Franck Manogil from Beziers, France, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Jos Dielis, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Hein56didden, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons