It stands on a promontory, originally inhabited by Sicani and then by the Phoenicians, It was a Greek colony from the middle of the sixth century B.C. Selinunte Archaeological Park is the largest and most impressive in Europe, including many temples, altars and shrines. The name Selinunte was given by the Greeks and it derives from the wild parsley (selinon) that still grows in this land and that gives off an intense flowery perfume, also appears on the first coins minted by the city.
The stone needed to derive the columns of these giants was extracted from Cave di Cusa and Latomies which were in the same area. Selinunte is one of the centers of interest to scholars, archaeologists and visitors, providing in the field of urbanism, military architecture and sculpture of an unique role in the history and archeology of the ancient world. Mainly there are two periods of two historical and architectural periods of Selinunte: the oldest, the greek, dating from the seventh to the fifth century B.C., the next one Punic dating back to IV – III century. B.C. Inside the acropolis exactly westward, there are four temples.
But Selinunte is not just history, set in the middle of the Mediterranean, in the extreme south-west of Sicily, it is the most popular destination for visitors and tourists who want to enjoy the historical and artistic beauty, natural and gastronomic of Sicily. But big draw is certainly the nature of its many beaches and crystal clear water of the Mediterranean Sea area of Selinunte and Triscina.
Lido Beach La Pineta. Surely one of the most beautiful and clean beaches in the entire pure Belice Valley, made of golden sand that slopes gently into the clear sea, the beach stretches for over 5km, from Selinunte up to Portopalo.
Lido Beach Zabbara Acropolis. Another beautiful beach, which is also very clean and unique.
Scalo di Bruca beach at Porto. A popular beach for its location in the center of Selinunte.
Beaches of Triscina. Wonderful beach of nearby Triscina. Important resort area, equipped with numerous tourist and commercial activities.
Segesta was a major city of Elimi, a people who according to ancient tradition, came from Troy. The city, hellenized, reached an important role among Sicilian centers and the Mediterranean basin, to the point of engaging in hostilities with its secular Selinunte also Athens and Carthage.
Destroyed Selinunte thanks to Carthage in 408 BC, Segesta lived mixed success until it was conquered and destroyed by Agathocles of Syracuse (in 307 BC), who imposed the name Dikaiopolis (City of Justice).
During the First Punic War it was conquered by Romans, who in addition to the old name they provided a vast territory and allowed a new phase of prosperity.
The temple of Segesta is one of the most perfect monuments arrived to us from antiquity, stands on a hill surrounded by a deep valley framed by Monte Bernardo and Monte Barbaro where the theater is located. The Theatre was built in the third century B.C. in the Hellenistic period but under Roman rule.
