| Megara Hyblaea Μέγαρα Ὑβλαία | |
 | |
Location  | |
| State | Italy |
|---|---|
| Region | Sicily |
| Territory | Syracusan |
| Institutional website | |
Megara Hyblaea (or Megara Iblea) is an archaeological site of the Sicily.
To know
The site of Megara is very interesting from an archaeological point of view, but it is considered a minor site and for this reason little visited and little appreciated. The presence of industrial plants in the vicinity, and the disfigured landscape certainly do not help. However it is part of one of the noteworthy Greek cities and to be considered on a visit to Syracusan.
Geographical notes
The site is located a short distance from the coast, with the Càntera River to the north. It is also cut in two by the Syracuse-Catania railway. Around the site are industrial sites in the background and a power plant to the north.
When to go
The site can be visited in all seasons, however in summer the high temperatures can make the visit exhausting as there are very few shaded spots.
Background
It was founded in 728 BC. by colonizers megaresis, who had previously settled near Trotilon (the current Brucoli), to Leontini and from Thapsos. Thucydides speaks of colonizers led by the ecista Lamis who, after having settled first in Leontini and then in Thapsos, were granted permission by the Sicilian king Hyblon to build a city that took the name in his honor.
There is little historical information about the city, it does not seem to have played an important role in local history except for the fact that it founded Selinunte. In 483 BC will be conquered and destroyed by Gelone of Syracuse who will kill the inhabitants by breaking down the walls and deporting the rich population. It seems that the comic poet also lived here Epicarmo that will culturally enrich Syracuse with his works.
It was later refounded by Timoleon that after the middle of the 4th century he decided to bring new colonists from Greece to Sicily, promising them houses and fields. In the third century. B.C. it was part of the reign of Gerone II.
During the Second Punic War it was destroyed by the consul's troops Marco Claudio Marcello which was going to besiege Syracuse. The city was never rebuilt and in later times only isolated farms settled on its territory until it was crushed by the presence of the nearby refineries.
How to get
By plane
The nearest airports are:
- 1 Catania airport (Catania Fontanarossa Airport "Vincenzo Bellini". IATA: CTA), Via Fontanarossa, 20, Fontanarossa, ☎ 39 0957239111.
00:00-24:00. Airport for national and international flights. 
- 2 Comiso Airport (Pio La Torre Airport), ☎ 39 0932 961467, @[email protected]. Airport opened in 2007. Mainly operates seasonal and charter flights.
00:00-24:00. Airport for national and international flights.
By car
From the highway 
Syracuse-Catania take the junction with indication Megara Iblea taking the ex 
and finally following the signs you will reach the park.
By bus
There is no public transport to reach the site.
Permits / Rates
- 3 Archaeological area and Antiquarium of Megara Hyblaea, Contrada Megara Giannalena, ☎ 39 09314508211.
Full 4 €, reduced 2 € (Mar 2020). Mon-Sun 9: 00-17: 00. There are information panels at the site, the antiquarium is closed.
Full 4 €, reduced 2 € (Mar 2020). How to get around
Megara Hyblaea: full screen map.The site must be visited on foot, although it is possible to use the car on the outward or return journey to stop and visit the archaic walls and the necropolis. In the map to the side, if you check the Mapnik mode, the pre-existing structures are better highlighted.
Apart from the connecting road between the site and the archaic walls, inside the main axes are two roads in an east-west and north-south direction that pass through the agora.
What see
- 1 Portico and agora. This portico placed in an east-west direction, of which only the base is visible, is placed on the agora. The large main space of the city was about 2370 m wide2, in the Archaic period, then reduced to only 1200 m2 in the Hellenistic period due to the overlapping of buildings from various eras which reduced their size. The surrounding buildings and those present in other parts of the city show a different stratification, between the archaic and more recent ones often difficult to distinguish except by an archaeologist's eye.
- 2 Hellenistic temple (in the northern part of the agora). Perhaps dedicated to Aphrodite, the foundations and fragments of friezes can be seen. The temple was demolished at the time of the war against Rome to reuse the blocks for the defensive walls, for this reason the friezes have not disappeared because they are unsuitable for this reuse.
- 3 Heroon (in the western part of the agora). This building from the second half of the 7th century BC. it was dedicated to the cult of heroes, typically inside were inserted the pinakes, votive tablets that represented the deeds.
- 4 Metallurgical workshop. From the archaeological remains it is clear that this building leaning against the walls was a metallurgical workshop of which there are also archaic furnaces.
- 5 West gate and Hellenistic walls. This door is located in correspondence with the walls clearly visible in its foundations from the Hellenistic period. It was erected in great haste in the third century BC. due to the danger of a war with the Romans and therefore architectural fragments and inscriptions from other parts of the city were also incorporated. The walls cross the road to rejoin the archaic ones via a barely visible tower north of the road. The walls were then demolished by the Romans and today they have only a few rows of blocks with the alternation of projecting square towers, in some points circular towers erected by the Syracusans to defend themselves from Athenian attacks in 415 BC are also visible. when the city had been abandoned.
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- 6 Hellenistic sanctuary (East of the Hellenistic baths and south of the agora). Vaguely triangular-shaped shrine of which the foundations remain
- 7 Hellenistic baths (South of the agora and west of the Hellenistic sanctuary). There were also spas in the Greek era, those of Megara are from the archaic period with numerous rooms with simple mosaic floors. One of the rooms is circular in shape. Nearby you can also see the ovens used to heat the water and the interiors.
- 8 Prytaneum (Along the main road heading south to west). Building from the second half of the 6th century BC where council meetings were held. A little further north on the same side there is a temple from the Archaic period.
- 9 Central colonnaded temple (in front of the prytaneum). Archaic temple from the 7th century BC to which other architectural structures of the Hellenistic period have been superimposed.
- 10 Archaic dwelling (next to the prytaneum). 6th century BC building
- 11 South gate. This pincer gate is part of the ancient city walls and shows the defensive strategy adopted by the city, an arrangement of sloping walls and towers that made it difficult for the direct attack of the enemies. However, the archaeological reading is complicated by the presence of superimposed archaic and Hellenistic buildings.
- 12 Archaic walls. These are the remains of archaic walls, they were excavated in 1888. They consist of square blocks interspersed with cylindrical towers at a distance of 25 meters. The walls run south where an urban gate opened.
- 13 Archaic temples. These are two temples explored by Paolo Orsi and today covered with traces of an entrenched Neolithic village nearby.
- 14 Necropolis. Remains of an archaic necropolis located west of the walls, another necropolis was discovered south of the walls. The sarcophagi were placed in this place after being found in the area or in nearby agricultural areas.
What to do
- Guided tour (Hermes Sicily). The site can be visited through a guided tour agreed in advance. For details see the web page.
Shopping
There is nowhere in the area to buy anything and the site does not even have a souvenir shop.
Where to eat
No activities nearby, best to look for ad Augusta, Priolo Gargallo or Syracuse.
Where stay
No hotel nearby, better to look for ad Augusta, Priolo Gargallo or Syracuse.
Safety
The site is often neglected, the grass is rarely cut and many parts to be visited force you to pass plants or uncultivated fields. During the summer season there is a risk of ticks that should not be underestimated.
How to keep in touch
Telephony
The telephone signal is present regularly.
Internet
No internet access point.
Around
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Megara Hyblaea
Commons contains images or other files on Megara Hyblaea
