Archaeological park of Himera

Himera was founded in 648 BC. from Greeks of Chalcidian and Doric origin from Zankle (present-day Messina). They were located in the center of a large gulf, between the promontories of Cefalù and Termini Imerese, and near the mouth of the Northern Imera river, an important artery connecting to central Sicily.

Himera was the home of illustrious and important citizens and was also mentioned by Cicero in his Verrine. After years of prosperity and relative peace, it was attacked by the Carthaginians in 480 BC. and definitively destroyed in 408 BC. After the destruction, the population suffered a varied fate: some dispersed in the countryside, others participated with the Carthaginians in the foundation of Thermai Himeraiai (Termini Imerese).

Built to a design by Franco Minissi, the Antiquarium was inaugurated in 1984; It remained closed for some years for renovations and was definitively reopened to the public in 2001.
Here, the most remarkable finds found in the excavations of Himera and in other sites falling within the territory of the polis are preserved.

Visit itinerary

The visit itinerary allows you to follow the historical and cultural issues of the Greek colony and its territory. In the entrance hall, didactic panels introduce the history and topography of the site, while an exhibition space is dedicated to a lion-headed eaves from the Temple of Victory and the medal table.

Following the “upper level”, where architectural elements and votive offerings from the Temenos of Athena are exhibited. The “central level” is dedicated to objects of “material culture” from excavations carried out in the various sectors of the town.

The “lower level” houses a selection of vases and grave goods from the Necropolis; a section dedicated to important sites in the area such as Terravecchia di Cuti, Monte Riparato, Cefalù and an exhibition of underwater finds. The visit ends with the polychrome mosaic, of African tradition, found in the Roman villa of Settefrati, located west of Cefalù.

For more information, contact us.