Catana, Sicilia – Part II

Continued from Catana Part I. The theater (along with the odeon) is arguably the centerpiece of the Roman monuments of Catana; it is certainly the most completely excavated and well-preserved of the Roman remains here. It is located at Via Vittorio Emanuele II 266. The theater is open every day from 9:00 to 17:00 and…

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Tauromenium, Sicilia

Most Recent Visit: June 2017. The area around the modern city of Taormina, and ancient Tauromenium, seems to have been originally inhabited by the native Siculi people, who may have even dwelt on the site of Taormina. A few kilometers down the coast, though, in 735 BCE, the Greek colony of Naxos was founded. Naxos…

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Tyndaris, Sicilia

Most Recent Visit: June 2017. In the scheme of the ancient settlements of Sicily, Tyndaris (also referred to as Tyndarion in antiquity) was a relatively new city, being founded in the early 4th century BCE. Located on top of a hill at the location of the small modern town that bears its name, Tindari, ancient…

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Soluntum, Sicilia

Most Recent Visit: June 2017. Located about 15 kilometers west of Palermo, on a low plateau of Monte Catalfano, are the remains of the town of Soluntum (also called Solus or Soloeis during Punic control). Like nearby Panormus and Motya, Soluntum seems to have been founded by Phoenician traders prior to the end of the…

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Herakleia Minoa, Sicilia

Most Recent Visit: June 2017 The ancient town of Herakleia Minoa was founded in the middle of the 6th century BCE by settlers from Selinus probably as a means preventing expansion by Akragas (Agrigentum). The ancient remains are located near the modern village of Eraclea Minoa, and about 26 kilometers to the west of Agrigento….

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Segesta, Sicilia

Most Recent Visit: May 2017. Well removed from any modern settlements is the ancient remains of Segesta. Like Eryx, Segesta seems to have been one of the major settlements of the Elymian people of Sicily, and served as the political center of the Elymians. Also, like Eryx, the name of the city seems to have…

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Tarraco, Hispania Tarraconensis – Part I

Most Recent Visit: June 2016 At the eventual site of the Roman colony of Tarraco was an Iberian settlement, probably called Cissa and belonging to the Cessetani tribe. Other names associated with the city are Cissis, Kesse, and Kosse. Another theory proposed is that it was a Phoenician colony with the name of Tarchon. The…

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Saguntum, Hispania Tarraconensis – Part I

Most Recent Visit: June 2016. Up the coast from Valencia about 30 kilometers is the town of Sagunto. From the middle ages until the 19th century, the town was known Morviedro, derived from the Latin muri veteres, a nod to the ample ancient remains here. In the 19th century, however, the name was changed to…

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Augusta Emerita, Lusitania – Part V

Quick Info: Address: Calle José Ramón Mélida s/n 06800 Mérida Hours: Everyday 09:00-21:00 (April to September) Everyday 09:30-18:30 (October to March) Admission: 6 Euros (15 Euros combination ticket) Continued From Augusta Emerita Part IV In a modern city that is full of intriguing vestiges of the Roman city, the crown-jewel of those remains is often…

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