1379-01-23
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Si Trova: a Gela
Lat: 37° 4' 18.99624" N - Long: 14° 13' 24.08678" E
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The Timoleonte walls of Capo Soprano are a very important archaeological evidence of the defensive system that surrounded the ancient Greek town of Gela during the period of its greatest expansion.
They are one of the best preserved examples of fortified walls in the classical world.
They extend for three hundred and fifty meters and are about eight meters high, and have a thickness of three meters.
In the Middle Ages they was used as a stone quarry.
The base is composed by large blocks of sandstone more than three meters high, above which there is a stretch of wall made of raw bricks of clay and straw.
The structure dates back at around the second half of the IV century a.C.
It is possible to see the base of a first tower and the remains of a second tower facing south-west; the basement of a third tower on the south side suggests that the entire town's walls had towers with regular sections.
The access ramps to the guard walkway are also preserved.
In front of these walls some of the bloodiest battles between Greeks and Carthaginians were fighted.
The walls are exposed in a particularly windy area, so they has been subject to continuous silting that reduced their height; this put the safety of the town at risk.
Probably during a period of cover-up, due to imminent danger was added the overlying part in raw bricks, cheaper and faster to build.
To the north, was brought to light the military quarter, and a large residential area of the Timoleon era was discovered nearby.
In the Middle Ages the whole fortification was already covered by the dunes.
The park that includes the walls is open from Monday to Saturday from 9:30 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00.
Holidays are closed.
The first Sunday of each month is open only in the morning with free admission.
For info tel: 093391226 - 0933930975.
Entrance ticket: 4 euros.
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What happened in Sicily: 23 January
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