SELINUNTE, SALT MARSHES AND SEGESTA - Sicily has tremendous historic value

SELINUNTE - These Doric temples are so ancient that they are referred to by letter. This is Temple E which was dedicated to Juno. Built around 485 b.c. it has a staggering 68 columns. The area  looks out to the sea and strolling along the various ruins it's easy to gain an impression of how large and important the city Selinunte was at its height before Hannibal destroyed it in 409 b.c.

Looking across from Temple E you can see the Acropolis which is enclosed within defensive walls and was built from the 6 th century b.c. to the 5 th centruy b.c. The Acropolis was the site of the most important public and religious buildings, and was also the residence of the town's aristocrats. The temple in the background was built in 6th century b.c. and was probably dedicated to Hercules or Apollo.

You can see the outlines of  stores that once existed in the town. Maybe this was a real estate office :-) since the land overlooked the sea!!!

SALT MARSHES - an interesting business  just outside of Marsala is the harvesting of salt. When the Carthaginians first landed in the area they understood the favorable natural and metorological conditions offered and set about to create basins from which to harvest salt. Exploiting the high level of salinity in the seawater and the wind and sun that contribute to the evaporation process, water is pumped into pans. Over several months the water is left to evaporate  and reaches a sluggish consistency. The salt is then raked and harvested. Once completely dry the salt is cleaned and packed. The history and technique has been preserved for centuries. These salt pans have been in use since antiquity and the windmills used to harvest it are centuries old. If you double click on the picture you can see several windmills in the background.

SEGESTA - Tempio di Segesta is a single amazing temple in a lonely field. Although half the size of Selinunte it is one of the best preserved ancient Doric temples in the world and the only freestanding limestone temple in all of Sicily which was built in the 5th centruy b.c. The temples rural setting also means this is a very pretty spot. The temple is part of the ruined city of Segesta. You can see the valley on the far right,

The view from Tempo di Segesta.