Archaeological ark of Selinunte – a dive into hellenistic history

History and Description

Selinunte, founded around 650 B.C. by colonists from Megara Hyblaea, was a rich and powerful city thanks to its maritime ports and strategic position, until 409 B.C., when it was destroyed by the Carthaginians and never rebuilt. The archaeological site of the city covers about 270 hectares and is divided into several areas, such as Gaggera (the sacred sanctuary), the Acropolis, the Cave di Cusa (from which the stone for the temples was quarried), the Necropolis, and the Macuzza area, where residential buildings once stood.

Curiosities

Selinunte is also famous for being the first Greek city to mint coins, which featured a parsley leaf on one side and incuse squares on the other.

Access Information

Open every day with continuous hours, the site can be visited for €6, with specific reductions and free entry on the first Sunday of each month.

How to Get here 

The archaeological park can be reached using combined public transport—by train to Castelvetrano and then bus to Selinunte—or by car, taking the A29 motorway toward Selinunte. Inside the site itself, shuttle services are available to move between the more distant areas.

A fully immersive experience in the heart of Magna Graecia, the Archaeological Park of Selinunte is an unmissable destination for lovers of culture and Hellenistic history!

Photo credits: Mαρκος (Wikipedia) – Licensed by CC 2.0