SEGESTA – GENTLY TOUCHED BY TIME
9th November 2016:
SEGESTA – MAJESTIC BEAUTY GENTLY TOUCHED BY TIME
While in Carini we went to many places: The star for us was SEGESTA.
I discovered SEGESTA while still at home, on one of my trollings through the Internet. It is a lonely temple that appears complete – unlike most of the number that cluster in and around Valle di Templi, further down the West side of the island, where all the tourist groups go.
I did not tell Graham of my find but noted it in my little book of ‘Things To See’.
SEGESTA – MY LITTLE SECRET
Now we were staying a forty-five minute drive away. I told Graham I would like to start the day driving along the E90 towards Trapani, an attractive seaside town. (We had pretty well ignored coasts in Italy. We did once try the famous Amalfi Coast, but concluded that it is always so choked with traffic you would see more if you took a coach trip along it.)
My husband was a bit mystified that we were taking the lower road. When I told him to turn onto the E933, which took us away from Trapani, he was even more so. But I had a good idea of what would meet our eyes.
SEGESTA – A GLEAM OF COLOUR
Before long the narrow road climbed a fairly steep hill on our right-hand side. Clumps of trees adorned it. Suddenly there was a gleam of colour appearing from a small spinney near the top.
It almost hid the less visited, but most spectacular ancient Greek temple. (Actually, it isn’t Greek – as we learned when we visited the centre. It was built probably in the 420’s BC. The Doric style suggests it was the work of an Athenian architect living in the area, in order to impress the Athenians, when an earlier civilisation – the Alymians – sought their aid.
And maybe that explains why we never learned of a dedication – to Athena, or any other god or goddess. Even so – it was a breathtaking sight.
We saw it first from the road. Suddenly, there it was! Graham was so thunderstruck by the sight that just for a second, he stopped our car on that lonely road. (See the feature image)
SEGESTA TEMPLE – GASPINGLY IMPRESSIVE STILL
It stood shining out at us in its entirety, all alone on a wooded hill. Its apricot-coloured stone gleamed in the sun. It is a totally untouched, complete survivor. It is majestic.
Later, as we walked up to it, we appreciated its vastness. What an impressive work of art from 2,500 years ago…
JUST ONE REGRET
Our only regret later was that we had not on the way taken in a famous 12th century cathedral or church near Palermo. A visit that could easily have been made that day:
Monreale.
This Duomo boasts of containing the heart of St Louis (patron saint of France, (King Louis 9th, born 1214). It also (we learned later) has in the apse a mosaic icon of an even earlier saint – St Thomas a Becket of England. It is said to be the earliest holy image of him.
Monreale had been on my list. The city itself is said to be very beautiful, and overlooking Palermo. Regrettably, there simply wasn’t time to go to all the ‘special’ places that Sicilia offers.
Text by – Jackie Usher, SWWJ. (aka author Debbie Darkin, & ‘Graham Liverpool’ on Trip Advisor.)
Photographs by – Graham Usher.
