Flag of the Sicilian Region Italiano: Bandiera della Regione Siciliana Sicilianu: Bannera dâ Riggiuni Siciliana Deutsch: Flagge der Sizilianischen Region (oder der Autonomen Region Sizilien) Français : Drapeau de la Région Sicilienne Español: Bandera de la Región Siciliana Português: Bandeira da Região Siciliana (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea; along with surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the ”Regione Autonoma Siciliana”
Sicily is located in the central Mediterranean. It extends from the tip of the Apennine peninsula from which it is separated only by the narrow Strait of Messina, towards the North African coast. Its most prominent landmark is Mount Etna, which is the tallest active volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world.
The earliest archeological evidence of human dwelling on the island dates from 8000 BC. At around 750 BC, Sicily became a Greek colony and fell under the rule of the Normans, the Crown of Aragon, Crown of Spain, the Holy Roman Empire, and finally the Bourbons, as the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. It was united with the rest of Italy in 1860, but a subsequent economic collapse led to separatism and the emergence of the Mafia, whose criminal activities pose problems to this day. After the birth of the Italian Republic in 1946, Sicily was given special status as an autonomous region.
Selinunte was one of the most important of the ancient Greek colonies in Sicily, situated on the southwest coast of the island, at the mouth of the small river of the same name. It was founded, according to historian Thucydides, by a colony from the Sicilian city of Megara, under the conduct of a leader named Pammilus, about 100 years after the settlement of that city, with the addition of a fresh body of colonists from the parent city of Megara in Greece.
The date of its foundation cannot be precisely fixed, as Thucydides indicates it only by reference to that of the Sicilian Megara, which is itself not accurately known, but it may be placed about 628 BCE. The name is supposed to have been derived from quantities of wild parsley that grew on the spot. For the same reason, they adopted the parsley leaf as the symbol on their coins.
We found the site to be most incredible, in most by the fact that we were the ONLY people visiting it! This is truly one of the most undiscovered beautiful sites on our planet. The majestic ruins were so wonderful to enjoy without the usual rabble of tour guides boasting their ignorance by providing incorrect information.
It was a most impressive, magical, mystical, inspiring and historically overwhelming visit. If you are ever in Italy, you must try to make a visit to this most wonderful place.
Tales and Travels of the Tinman 
What a wonderful place!!! So romatic but i guess everything in Italy is beautiful and romatic……..maybe one day i will get the chance to visit such a wonderful place. You look great my friend always!
Ana
Beatiful island! Thanks for the photos and history lesson. Italy is at the top of my list to visit but these emply ruins are something I would enjoy. It somehow remined me of Chichen Itza
It has the same spiritual feel as Chichen Itza. I must tell you this is my first visit to Sicily and after this the rest of Italy can be had by humanity……..this island is so peaceful and the people so endearing…the food exquisit and the history overwhelming….all without the crowds!
Wow great post – and great pics! I love Sicily.
And thanks for the likes! 🙂
Is that you on top of the broken down columns? Totally amazing pictures and information….you always make me feel like I am there! Thanks for your posts!
No, it was Scott on top of the ruins…………I did not want to go because of thin blood, etc………then I had to go up and get him down!!!
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Got to visit Sicily last year and actually saw Etna and Strombolli eruptions. Beautiful place, great food, of course. You know I’m envious.
A marvelous seaside meal….a history lesson….and a tour of Sicily…..I need a nap! A wonderful experience (and we’re glad you’re back home, safe and sound!)
oh honey …………. it has just begun!
awesome!
Love among the ruins! “With their triumphs and their glories and the rest! Love is best!” clipping Robert Browning. Good golly! What gorgeous shots, of course. The lighting and blue skies are exquisite, especially the hint of warm sunshine on the columns. I also loved the historical tidbits. What a rich post. Imagine! You had the run of the place without another soul in sight? Could you feel the past? Did you weep?! How inspiring. Thanks for taking us on the Magical Mystery Tour. Big hugs! Theadora
Oh Theadora…………this was a most mystical place. I so wanted to put on a mini-toga and scamper about!
Amazing, I’ve heard about Sicily from acquaintances who’ve been and seen their photos, and never had any desire to go. Here you are, giving really informative and interesting background material (love the parsley leaves!), and then providing sensation photos, gorgeous but also deeply spiritual and meditative, because there’s no one in sight (well, just one!) with the antique architecture, the blue sky, the hills —
Glorious! You could be our cicerone any day, were we still up to traveling!
Thanks so much for sharing your adventure so generously.
Thank you so very much for your very kind and beautiful words. I am humbled by your comment and so very happy that you enjoy my blog. You have made my day………..week…………month!
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It is the ruins that capture my imagination. We can only stand in awe and admire these monuments to the past. Virginia