Road trip in Sicily, part two: Marsala, Isola di Mothia, Segesta

Marsala

(Date: 14-16.07.2007)
(Written: 18.07.2007)

After leaving the Palermo airport (without a bag, see previous post...), we drove south to a small hotel not far from the city of Marsala. In fact, this hotel called Isola di Mozia (island of Mozia) is facing the island itself, and offers a magnificent view on the salines and the bay. We had a very nice dinner (antipasti and spaghetti vongole) in the nearby restaurant... Mothia (not very original name, but very good food). I finished the day with a delicious glass of Marsala wine, which tasted very much like Port wine (Marsala wine was made by people from England who wanted to have something similar to Port wine on their ships, but couldn't ask the Portuguese because of never ending fights). Finally, getting back to the hotel, we enjoyed the amazing sunset on the bay.

The next day, wearing the previous day's clothes (yuk, but what can you do without a bag...), we went out early and went to the nearby saline, to take a boat. The bay is half closed by a very long island, and in the center of the 'lagoon' is the small island of Mozia (or Mothia). The trip starts in a small channel, passing by huge mountains of salt, covered by tiles to protect the salt from the weather. The salt itself is made by evaporating sea water in big square ponds. It's quite an impressive view.

Then, crossing the shallow lagoon, we reached the island itself and took a stroll under the pine trees. The island was a very early phenician settlement, and many traces from this civilization can be found. The most impressive piece found on the island is a statue of a Greek youth, very big and well preserved.

Statue of a Greek youth

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Segesta

Back on the mainland, we drove to Marsala, but on a Sunday pretty much everything was closed. So instead we decided to drive to Segesta and visit the very impressive unfinished temple there. According to the legend, Segesta was founded by followers of Aenea after the war of Troy. The temple is very well preserved, partly because of the legendary common origin of Segestans and Romans (the Romans gave protection and privileges to the city) and partly because it was never completed (so the Christians, well known destroyers of non-christian religious buildings, left it in peace). Also, it's quite outside of everything, so probably it was one more factor protecting it. The building itself is very impressive, even more so because it's in the middle of nowhere.

Being very courageous, we decided to walk up to the Greek theater on top of the hills. Very hot and quite long walk, but the view from up there was really rewarding, The theater faces the valley, and one can see all the way down to the sea. Beautiful place, and almost no one around!

We ended this day by an unnecessary drive to Palermo, unfortunately (see previous post), but eventually we had a very nice dinner again in the restaurant Mozia, and then a very peaceful night in that wonderful hotel.

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