Segesta, Archaeological site in Calatafimi, Italy
Segesta is an archaeological park near Calatafimi-Segesta in western Sicily, containing the remains of an ancient city with a Doric temple and a Greek theater. The site spreads across Monte Barbaro and neighboring hills, where visitors walk among ruins of residential quarters, city walls and sanctuaries.
The Elymians founded the city in the 5th century BCE and sought protection through shifting alliances with Athens and Carthage in conflict with nearby Selinunte. The settlement later fell under Roman rule and was abandoned in medieval times, while the temple and theater survived.
The name traces back to the Elymians, a people who claimed descent from Trojan refugees and founded one of western Sicily's major cities here. Visitors today see remains of settlements, streets and public squares that show how people lived and organized their city on this hillside over many centuries.
The site opens daily, and shuttle buses carry visitors from the temple up to the theater if someone prefers to avoid the uphill walk. Wheelchair users can reach the temple area but should be aware of steep sections in other parts of the park.
The temple was never completed: walls are missing inside, and the columns still carry projections used for lifting blocks during construction. Archaeologists suspect the building was meant to impress politically rather than serve a religious function.
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