On the road between Trapani and Palermo in the north of Sicily, just outside the ancient city of Segesta, is a beautifully preserved Doric Temple. It sits magnificently on a rise surrounded by rolling green hills and rocky cliffs, setting it off perfectly.
Segesta was one of the major cities of the Elymian people, one of the indigenous inhabitants of Sicily. The population mixed with the Ionian Greeks and it was an Athenian architect who designed the temple. It is thought to have been built in the 420s BC.
It was not finished. The columns are not fluted and the roof was never built. It somehow avoided destruction by the Carthaginians in the 5th century…lucky for us.
The temple attracts quite a crowd, as you would expect, but the area is huge so there is plenty of room for everyone to walk around the temple and see it from every angle.
We were there in spring and the wild flowers were spectacular, making the views even more beautiful.
Further up the hill is a semicircular theatre built about the same time. It is a bit of a climb but the thoughtful people looking after the site provide a bus to take you to the top.
There would have been no need for stage props with a view like this.
The theatre is still used today.
We walked down the hill from the theatre to get some views of the temple from above.
We stayed at a great B&B, Villa Palmeri, on top of a nearby hill.
We had amazing views of the temple as well as the gorgeous hills.
It looked beautiful at night.
…and the next morning.
Sicily is full of amazing things…we will return.
So beautiful! Great photos, Debra!
By: Mulino Dominillo on July 19, 2016
at 6:18 am
Thank you, it is a beautiful place.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 19, 2016
at 6:41 am
So beautiful. It would feel magical to stand there. I am trying to imagine what the air felt like, and what sounds you heard.
By: The Daily Cure on July 19, 2016
at 6:23 am
You can’t see from the photos, but it was really windy. Clouds were skidding across the sky, which is why some of the photos are darker. It is a beautiful place and the wild flowers were amazing. If you go to Sicily, go in spring.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 19, 2016
at 6:47 am
Really gorgeous photos! Such a stately temple and lovely wildflowers.
By: karenincalabria on July 19, 2016
at 6:39 am
We were very happy to be there at such a beautiful time. Everything was green and gorgeous.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 19, 2016
at 6:48 am
Grazie Debra. Io mi trovero in Sicilia in Settembre
By: Anonymous on July 19, 2016
at 7:44 am
Speriamo il tempo e bello.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 19, 2016
at 9:01 am
Gorgeous views, Debra….you say Spring – what month?
By: Sue on July 19, 2016
at 7:56 am
It was mid April, a great time to visit.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 19, 2016
at 9:00 am
OK…I went in late March, and the flowers weren’t fully out…
By: Sue on July 19, 2016
at 9:04 am
what fascinating history – and a Grand Design. The flowers are so pretty. What a lovely landscape.
By: Jan on July 19, 2016
at 10:32 am
The area is spectacular. It is a beautiful place to visit.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 20, 2016
at 3:14 am
I visited this place in 2008 – thanks for the memory nudge!
By: Andrew Petcher on July 19, 2016
at 1:22 pm
It is a stunning building…amazing it is still standing all these years later.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 20, 2016
at 3:15 am
It looks as though you had a private viewing as there are no people in your gorgeous photos! All worthy of painting!
By: Belinda on July 19, 2016
at 1:40 pm
There were quite a lot of people about, but I wait until I get a people free view where possible.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 20, 2016
at 3:15 am
Debra: that is just plain beautiful! George
By: George Miori on July 19, 2016
at 2:28 pm
Yes, it a very beautiful building in a lovely setting.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 20, 2016
at 3:16 am
That place looks amazing. Thank you for the pictures. We went to Positano in May and now I think we will have to go to Sicily!
By: janetknight57 on July 19, 2016
at 3:13 pm
Positano is fabulous too. Sicily is beautiful and diverse, you must go.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 20, 2016
at 3:17 am
Wonderful photos, Debra. What a colossal place! Love your night shot especially.
By: anotherday2paradise on July 19, 2016
at 4:31 pm
We certainly picked the right place to stay. Our view was amazing.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 20, 2016
at 3:18 am
Would be mesmerizing to watch a play or concert ata summer night on the stage with that beautiful view and background
By: corneliaweberphotography on July 20, 2016
at 12:36 am
It would definitely be a great experience.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 20, 2016
at 3:18 am
Stunning Debra. Great photos!
By: Treava on July 20, 2016
at 3:07 am
Thank you, I enjoyed taking them.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 20, 2016
at 3:19 am
Just incredible Debra. The history that a place like that has seen, just quietly blows my mind. One day, one day.
By: cityhippyfarmgirl on July 20, 2016
at 4:16 am
If only those columns could talk.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 20, 2016
at 9:33 am
Wow! How beautiful!
By: Girl, Independent on July 20, 2016
at 8:38 am
Stunning, isn’t it?
By: Debra Kolkka on July 20, 2016
at 9:33 am
Made sense that an Athenian architect designed it. It looks so much like Acropolis. and the theater reminds me of the ones in Ios and Kavala in Greece. Sicily is full of amazing and surprising things, 😉
By: rommel on July 23, 2016
at 6:51 am
There are lots of Greek ruins in Sicily. It is a very interesting place that visit.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 23, 2016
at 8:07 am
Ruins in the countryside of today is an excellent find.
By: aFrankAngle on July 24, 2016
at 1:16 am
It is amazing to see it there all by itself.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 24, 2016
at 12:41 pm
[…] ruins in Sicily make the trip worthwhile all by themselves. We visited Agrigento, Segesta and some amazing Roman mosaics I haven’t written about […]
By: 2016 travels | Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on December 27, 2016
at 7:55 am