Himera

Welcome to the plains of Himera, a site where the destiny of Sicily was once decided on the battlefield. Located on the northern coast of the island, between the modern towns of Termini Imerese and Cefalù, Himera was founded in…

The Temple of Victory is the most significant architectural remain in Himera. Built shortly after the great battle of 480 BCE, it was a thank-offering to the gods for the Greek victory. …

To understand the artistic life of Himera, we must visit the Antiquarium, the on-site museum that houses the most precious finds from the excavations. The centerpieces of the collection are the lion-head gargoyles from the Temple…

We now ascend to the plateau, the site of the upper city. This was the residential heart of Himera, where the majority of the population lived. …

In 2008, a discovery was made near the railway line that changed our understanding of Himera forever: the Necropolis of the Soldiers. Excavations uncovered thousands of graves, many containing the remains of soldiers who died in…

To understand the vulnerability of Himera, we must look at its defensive walls. The city was surrounded by a massive circuit of fortifications, parts of which are still visible today on the western and southern edges of the…

Just on the edge of the archaeological park, we find Terre di Himera, a charming agriturismo that connects the ancient past to the living traditions of the Sicilian countryside. This area, which once formed the 'chora' or rural…

Our journey through Himera concludes here, on the quiet plateau overlooking the sea. This site is unique in Sicily because it was never rebuilt; its story was violently cut short, leaving us a snapshot of the Greek world at its…