Segesta

Segesta was the political center of the Elymian people. It is in the northwestern part of Sicily, in the province of Trapani and in the comune of Calatafimi-Segesta.
According to tradition, as used in Virgil's Aeneid, Segesta was founded jointly by Phocians and Trojans.
The city was once allied with Carthage, but later submitted to Roman rule in 260 BC ; little is known about the city in that period, but it is probable that the population gradually moved to the port city of Castellammare del Golfo (the emporium of Segesta) due to better trading opportunities.
The city itself was finally destroyed by the Vandals.
The ruins of the city are located on the top of Monte Bàrbaro 305m above the sea. The city was protected by steep slopes on several sides and by walls on the more gentle slope towards the temple.
From the hilltop there is a splendid view over the valley towards the Gulf of Castellamare. The city controlled several major roads between the coast to the north and the hinterland.
The monument representative of Segesta is the unfinished hexastyle doric temple, that was built probably the late 5th century BC. The temple is situated on a hilltop just outside the ancient city of Segesta with a commanding view of the surrounding area. It is one of the best-preserved Greek temples and its unfinished state and its remarkable state of conservation makes it one of the most important surviving Hellenic temples in the world.

Places to visit: Palermo, Monreale, Caccamo, Erice, Selinunte, the nature reserve of “lo Zingaro”, Mozia.