The Park
The archaeological park of Himera, Solunto and Iato includes the state-owned archaeological sites and the Antiquaria present in a widespread manner throughout the province of Palermo.
History
From a historical and cultural point of view, the Archaeological Park of Himera, Solunto and Iato encompasses all ethnic and cultural components that characterised western Sicily in antiquity. It includes Greek colonial realities (Himera), Punic cities (Solunto), settlements indigeni d’altura (Iato, La Montagnola di Marineo, Monte Maranfusa a Roccamena). Within the archaeological park of Himera there are also entire prehistoric villages (Archaeological Area of the Faraglioni of Ustica). In the area there are also medieval and early medieval monuments (Terme di Cefalà Diana, Beccadelli Bologna Castle with annexed archaeological exhibition).
On Monte Iato one of the most important indigenous settlements in central-western Sicily, founded by the Sicans or perhaps the Elymians, a people of uncertain origin, known mainly from literary sources.
On the promontory of Solanto, on the other hand, was the oldest centre of Solunto, founded by the Phoenicians together with Palermo, at least a century later than the founding of Mozia. Destroyed at the beginning of the 4th century BC by Dionysius of Syracuse, it was re-founded around the middle of the century on nearby Mount Catalfano.
a few dozen kilometres to the east is Himera, the westernmost of the Greek colonies on the northern coast of Sicily. Himera was founded in 648 BC by a group of Chalcidans from Zancle (Messina) and a group of Syracusan outcasts.
A composite ethnic reality, therefore, which experienced different forms of mediation and integration that gave rise to hybrid and original cultural forms.
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