Michael and Pam's Travels Our European Motorhome Adventures and other Travels

Ancient Selinunte, Sicily 2018 ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น

Date: 30th July 2018

Travelled: 138 kilometres from Mazara del Vallo to Agrigento, both in Sicily.

Visited: Ancient City of Selinunte โ‚ฌ6pp

Stayed:  Punta Piccola Park Sosta, Scala dei Turchi, โ‚ฌ22, all the usual.  N37.28918, E13.49296

Budget:  58 days @ โ‚ฌ95 pd.

Having enjoyed our stay in the sosta at Mazara del Vallo we say goodbye to the pool and the proprietor, finding our way to the SS115. ย Its only about 30 klms to Selinunte but the GPS leads us astray costing us another 10 klms. ย Problem being many ancient sites in Sicily are not readily identified by the GPS as a town or place. ย Hence we need to aim for a nearby town then try and pick up the brown tourist signs and frankly in Sicily they are a bit thin.



We find our way to the car-park, pay our โ‚ฌ6pp and start walking up the first hill.  Selinunte was built overlooking the sea, it was well established in 628 BC.
All records of the city were lost after it fell to the Romans in 350 BC.  Hence the significant remains are identified by a letter, rather than a name. Selinunte covers hundreds of acres, some you can walk, but other parts are best done by vehicle.
Temple E is the most intact (mainly due to a restoration back in the 1950โ€™s) it is pictured above and below.
Temple E again, inside the outer collinade looking forward to inner alter.  Considered a perfect example of the Doric style outside Greece.  In other words the number of columns by width and breadth.  The circumference of the column base by height and its alignment to the sun.
Not unlike baptismal fonts these stone bowls guard the entrance to temple E.
There seems to be plenty of work putting jigsaw puzzles together here.
Temple F
Temple G
Pam loves a ruin crawling with geckos ๐ŸฆŽ as much as anyone.  But its 35ยบ and the nearest shade is in Austria.  I tell Pam there is a temple DFO just over the hill, that seems to keep her going.
Looking across the valley we can see the walled residential part of Selinunte waiting for us.
So we drive the hymer to the next car-park and start exploring.
Damn Geckos ๐ŸฆŽ.
Temple C, a personal favourite.  It was rebuilt in the 1920โ€™s by a British archeological team.  It makes a nice photo.  We could go on and look at more rocks but given the time and heat we bale after catching a glimpse of the sea.
Time for a swim.
Back on the SS115 we continue east. The main roads in Sicily are easy driving other than the need to remember every one else on the road is trying to kill you.
Soon after we arrive, friends from Sydney, Greg and Julia drop in.  They are also touring Sicily, so we discuss our Sicilian adventures to date, comparing notes.  We agree to meet for dinner in Agrigento tonight.  We enjoy a swim or three, before heading into Agrigento on the scooter for dinner at a fabulous west african restuarant.  At Punta Piccola the sun is setting on another day living the camper car life-style.

Michael and Pam


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