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Discover Sicily and 8211 A Roman Treasure Trove
icily’s prime from the island’s different
geographic location in the civilizations, including those
centre of the Mediterranean from the Phoenician, Punic,
Basin has meant that, over time, Greek, Roman and Saracen periods.
settlers and conquerors from the Listed here are some of the best
medieval Normans, Aragonese Roman ruins in Sicily:
Spanish, Moorish North Africans,
ancient Greeks, Phoenicians, and Cape Boéo – Marsala
Romans have come and, except for Roman ruins here include a villa
the latter, mostly, gone. Today, with baths and colourful mosaics,
Sicily's Roman ruins are rivaled and the Church of San Giovanni,
only by those in Rome, and lovers built over a cave converted into
of Roman archaeology will find a a home in Roman times. The Baglio
treasure trove of sites to Anselmi Archeological Museum on
explore. Lungomare Boéo exhibits ship from
the Punic era.
To get an idea of the diversity
of Sicily in ancient times and Catania
particularly the range of Catania has two Roman
artifacts from the Greek and amphitheatres, one reminiscent of
Roman colonizations of the Rome’s Colosseum. The
island, visit the Museo smaller one, off Via Vittorio
Archeologico Regionale in Emanuele, built upon an earlier
Palermo. One of Italy’s Greek theatre, accommodated 6,000
greatest archaeological museums, spectators, while a larger
it is filled with rare finds that amphitheatre, near the commercial
put the multiple foreign centre in Piazza Stesicoro, is
occupations in perspective. As completely Roman and was built in
well, you’ll have a chance the second century AD.
to compare priceless artifacts
Solunto – Palermo
Seventeen kilometres east of Tyndaris – Capo
Palermo, overlooking the coast, Tindari
and on a site that was originally Tyndaris, founded by Dionysius
a Phoenician village that had the Elder in 396 BC, and later
been expanded by the Greeks in destroyed by pillaging
396 BC, are the ruins of a town conquerors, has been excavated to
that was rebuilt by the display the ruins of everything
conquering Romans 50 years later. from a basilica to a Roman
The ruins mostly consist of theatre. Overlooking the sea, the
floors, with some mosaics, the setting here is magnificent.
lower portions of walls, with
some murals, and some columns. Villa Romana del Casale
While there is a small – Piazza Armerina
archaeological museum here, most This Roman villa, a few
of the original artifacts are in kilometers outside town, and
the Palermo's Regional built between 330 and 360 AD, is
Archaeological Museum. one of the largest surviving
classical-era Roman dwellings
Taormina anywhere. The villa contains 40
The Greek amphitheatre here, rooms with western Europe’s
built in the third century BC, most magnificent mosaics
was expanded later by the Romans, depicting scenes from daily life,
who enlarged the stage. The view such as hunting, and one mosaic
of Mount Etna and the sea beyond of ten young women dressed in
the theatre is spectacular. strapless two-piece swim suits
During summer, the theatre stages that could be in fashion today.
dramatic performances. A much
smaller Roman theatre, the odium, No archaeology lover’s trip
is near Santa Caterina church. to Sicily would be complete
without visiting the Valley of archeological museum. You
the Temples, the largest and best can’t miss the Concord
collection of ancient Greek ruins Temple with its with 13 tall,
in the world. You’ll also wind-eroded columns. Set outside
see necropoli, houses, streets the city of Agrigento, on the
and everything else you would southern coast of Sicily, the
expect to find in an ancient temples look dramatic at night
city. Be sure to check out the when floodlights accentuate their
small amphitheatre, the several shape and form.
auditoria, and the first-rate
About the Author:
Rod Ritchie writes for many publishers such as AA Publishing and Fodors. Cottages to Castles offer a range of high quality rental villas in Sicily and Sicily vacation rentals.
Read more articles by: R. Ritchie
Article Source: www.iSnare.com |
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