The archaeological site of Himera: 5 things to know for an excursion from Palermo

You’re planning to, or you’d like to, spend a holiday in Palermo. And you want to give this holiday a touch of culture (and charm) that will make it even more special. In this case, not far from Palermo there is an archaeological site that is worth a visit: it’s the ancient Himera, a Greek colony, on the north coast of the island, at the mouth of the river of the same name.

1. Things to see

• The temples. In the city of Himera, there were several temples. The largest and most important was the Temenos of Athena, in the north-eastern part of the upper town. In the lower city there was a large sanctuary with the Temple of Victory.
• The necropolises. The remains of four necropolises were found in the past decades: the eastern necropolis, near the beach, east of Imera river; the southern necropolis, in Scacciapidocchi village; the two western necropolises, in Piano del Tamburino and Piana di Buonfornello.
• The Antiquarium. It is a museum opened in 1984. Divided into different sections on different levels connected by ramps, inside are preserved the most significant findings from Himera: vessels and kits, medals, various everyday objects.

2. Opening times

The museum and the archaeological site are open:

• From Tuesday to Saturday: from 9:30am to 1:30pm and from 2:30pm to 6:30pm;
• Sunday and holidays: from 9:30am to 1:30pm;
• Closed on monday.

3. Tickets and prices

The full price ticket costs 4 euros; the reduced price ticket costs 2 Euros. Admission is free every first Sunday of the month. The ticket office closes half an hour before the closure.

4. How to get there

The archaeological site of Himera is located in contrada Buonfornello, in the municipality of Termini Imerese. To get there from Palermo (one of the main ports where ferries to Sicily dock):

• Take the E90 motorway towards Messina;
• Take Buonfornello exit;
• Follow the road signs to Himera.

The journey by car takes less than one hour.

5. Further information

For further information about the museum and the archaeological site of Himera (any changes, guided tours, event), you can visit Regione Sicilia official website, Regione.sicilia.it.

Image source: Di Clemensfranz – Opera propria, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=861055