Archeo
Val di Mazara History
This land, meeting place of culture and religions in the past as today, have sign of several civilizations. A Travel in this land not only give the opportunity to taste an unique and generous hospitality, but also the knowledge of old culture and civilizations that pushed the human progress. Here there are traces from Phoenician, Greeks, Arabs and Normans. Mothia island recall Phoenicians, the archaeological parks in Selinunte and Segesta are witness of the importance of this land for the past civilizations.
Mothia
Plunged into the Stagnone lagoon, there is the small island of San Pantaleo, where rose the old town of Mothia. Following the road among bright mountains of salt and ancient weathercock, we are nearby the small island, evidence of Phoenician and Greek civilization. This island was a very strong and prosperous Phoenician colony and there are still many archaeological findings.
Selinunte
Rediscovered in 1551 by the historian Tommaso Fazello , Selinunte whose name comes from the Greek Σελινον the wild parsley, growing spontaneously along the Modone river banks. Greek vanguard on the south west cost of Sicily, was founded by Megaresi on VII sec. b.C., Selinunte had a strategic importance for the Mediterranean sea. Strong for his alliance with Cartago, thinking to have military support to oppose the neighbour Segesta, has been any way destroyed by Cartages in 409 b.C. . The archaeological sight is on the east side to the town, with the Acropolis. On the west side hill there are the ruins of three temples. Inside the Castelvetrano civic museum in addition to the several archaeological findings, there is the valued bonze of Efebus ascribed to Prassitele. Along the road from Mazara to Torretta Granitola, running along olive trees and wine-yards, there is the Cusa quarries, archaeological sight where the Selinunte people, was pulling out the tuff to built up their Temples.
Cusa Quarries
Named by Arabs Ramuxara, are nearby Campobello di Mazara. They were an endless mine’s stone, a very strong tuft, very good for buildings and it has been used to built up the old town of Selinunte. Still now are visible some big cylindrical stones to witness the past.
Segesta
Founded by Elmi, is located among several hills containing its precious gems: the Temple and the Theatre. The Greek Temple, in Doric-Sicilian style from the V cen.. b.C. is set, very well preserved in the middle of a very charming valley. The Greek Theatre from the III cen. b.C., dug into the rocks, appear from the top of Mount Barbaro where every two years there are performances recalling the ancient atmosphere.