What to see in Gela, itinerary including the main monuments and places of interest, including the park of remembrances, archaeological museum and fortifications of Capo Soprano.
Tourist information
A seaside resort located at the mouth of the homonymous river in southern Sicily, Gela is located at the mouth of the reclaimed plain.
Doric colony founded by the Rodio-Cretans and inhabited since the Neolithic era, Gela was razed to the ground by the Carthaginians in 405 BC. and by the Mamertines, the inhabitants were forced to take refuge in Phintias, the current Licata, thus decreeing the total disappearance of the city.
In 1230 Federico II founded Terranuova, in the same place where Gela once stood, to which in 1927 the original name was reassigned.
The Greek fortifications of the ancient city extended from the town of Molino a Vento, where the ancient acropolis stood, corresponding to today's Remembrance park, up to Capo Soprano.
In the archaeological park of Remembrances there was the base of a Doric temple dating back to 480 BC. and the ruins of a second temple dedicated to Athena and dating back to the sixth century BC.
Nearby there is a belvedere, an excellent panoramic position.
The visit to the archaeological museum is very interesting, which exhibits materials from the Navarra collection, made up of objects found following excavations carried out, mostly geloi, or belonging to the ancient local population.
These include Attic vases, Greek ceramics and Ionic capitals from acropolis buildings.
What see
Noteworthy is the fifth century horse protome, an element of an acroterio, one of the best examples of local terracotta typical of the classical period.
On the balcony, material relating to urban and suburban sanctuaries, especially ceramics, is exhibited.
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In addition to this there are materials from the necropolis of the sixth and fifth centuries BC, the medal collection, terracotta sarcophagi, finds from Manfria, Butera, Monte Bubonia, Vassallaggi, Sofiana and from the surroundings of Caltanissetta.
The fortifications of Capo Soprano, which constitute the best preserved city monument, were erected in the fourth century BC.
The lower part of the walls was built using stone blocks, while raw bricks were used for the upper part.
The top is embattled, while the door is located in the center of the large buttress, also inside the walls are the military quarters.
The Greek baths, located in the Capo Soprano area, date back to the fourth century BC.
In the vicinity of Gela, near the artificial lake of Disueri, there are some Sicilian necropolises.
In Butera the medieval castle, the town hall of the fifteenth century and several archaeological remains are interesting to see.
