Discover Sicily - a Roman treasure trove

Sicily's prime geographic location in the centre of thewith some mosaics, the lower portions of walls, with
Mediterranean Basin has meant that, over time,some murals, and some columns. While there is a
settlers and conquerors from the medieval Normans,small archaeological museum here, most of the original
Aragonese Spanish, Moorish North Africans, ancientartifacts are in the Palermo's Regional Archaeological
Greeks, Phoenicians, and Romans have come and,Museum.
except for the latter, mostly, gone. Today, Sicily'sTaormina The Greek amphitheatre here, built in the
Roman ruins are rivaled only by those in Rome, andthird century BC, was expanded later by the
lovers of Roman archaeology will find a treasureRomans, who enlarged the stage. The view of Mount
trove of sites to explore.Etna and the sea beyond the theatre is spectacular.
To get an idea of the diversity of Sicily in ancientDuring summer, the theatre stages dramatic
times and particularly the range of artifacts from theperformances. A much smaller Roman theatre, the
Greek and Roman colonizations of the island, visit theodium, is near Santa Caterina church.
Museo Archeologico Regionale in Palermo. One ofTyndaris - Capo Tindari Tyndaris, founded by
Italy's greatest archaeological museums, it is filledDionysius the Elder in 396 BC, and later destroyed by
with rare finds that put the multiple foreignpillaging conquerors, has been excavated to display
occupations in perspective. As well, you'll have athe ruins of everything from a basilica to a Roman
chance to compare priceless artifacts from thetheatre. Overlooking the sea, the setting here is
island's different civilizations, including those from themagnificent.
Phoenician, Punic, Greek, Roman and Saracen periods.Villa Romana del Casale - Piazza Armerina This Roman
Listed here are some of the best Roman ruins invilla, a few kilometers outside town, and built
Sicily:between 330 and 360 AD, is one of the largest
Cape Boéo - Marsala Roman ruins here includesurviving classical-era Roman dwellings anywhere. The
a villa with baths and colourful mosaics, and thevilla contains 40 rooms with western Europe's most
Church of San Giovanni, built over a cave convertedmagnificent mosaics depicting scenes from daily life,
into a home in Roman times. The Baglio Anselmisuch as hunting, and one mosaic of ten young
Archeological Museum on Lungomare Boéowomen dressed in strapless two-piece swim suits
exhibits ship from the Punic era.that could be in fashion today.
Catania Catania has two Roman amphitheatres, oneNo archaeology lover's trip to Sicily would be
reminiscent of Rome's Colosseum. The smaller one,complete without visiting the Valley of the Temples,
off Via Vittorio Emanuele, built upon an earlier Greekthe largest and best collection of ancient Greek ruins
theatre, accommodated 6,000 spectators, while ain the world. You'll also see necropoli, houses, streets
larger amphitheatre, near the commercial centre inand everything else you would expect to find in an
Piazza Stesicoro, is completely Roman and was builtancient city. Be sure to check out the small
in the second century AD.amphitheatre, the several auditoria, and the first-rate
Solunto - Palermo Seventeen kilometres east ofarcheological museum. You can't miss the Concord
Palermo, overlooking the coast, and on a site thatTemple with its with 13 tall, wind-eroded columns. Set
was originally a Phoenician village that had beenoutside the city of Agrigento, on the southern coast
expanded by the Greeks in 396 BC, are the ruins ofof Sicily, the temples look dramatic at night when
a town that was rebuilt by the conquering Romansfloodlights accentuate their shape and form.
50 years later. The ruins mostly consist of floors,