SEGESTA, TRAPANI

SEGESTA - The spectacle before the eyes of those lucky enough to arrive in Segesta in the spring months is breathtaking: set in the vegetation covering one of the many heights southwest of Palermo, the mass of the splendid temple rises as one of the most important and best-preserved monuments to have survived from antiquity to the present day.

The peristyle consists in thirty-six unfluted limestone columns and it lacks indications that could link it to the worship of any particular deity.

This means that the experts are still debating the origins and function of this building, which dates from 430 BC and was left incomplete. A steep road (do not fear, a bus awaits those who do not want to walk up, especially in the hottest part of the day) climbs to the theatre, another essential part of the Segesta archaeological park, reserving yet more splendid views of the temple.

The walk ends in a clearing that leads to the upper tiers of the theatre, like a scenic balcony overlooking the 63m-diameter semicircle; the orientation to the north is unusual and probably satisfied a desire to allow the public to enjoy the view of the hills and sea in the distance.

Few remains are left of the stage, once enriched with pillars and columns. After the completion of the restoration and consolidation work, the theatre - of unique charm thanks to its isolated location in the countryside -has now rediscovered its purpose.