The ancient quarries where the columns of Selinunte were cut
About thirteen kilometres from Selinunte, in the countryside of Campobello di Mazara, lie the Cave di Cusa, the limestone quarries from which the Greeks extracted the drums of the columns for the temples of Selinunte. Work stopped suddenly in 409 BC, when the Carthaginians attacked the city, and everything remained as the stonecutters left it.
Walking among olive trees, you see the various stages of the work frozen in time: drums of columns still partly attached to the rock, with the circular trench cut around them, others already detached and ready to be transported, others abandoned along the way. It is a rare chance to understand how the great Greek temples were built, in a peaceful and evocative setting.
Tip: the site is part of the Selinunte archaeological park; spring, when the flowers bloom among the stones, is the most beautiful season.
Discover Campobello di Mazara →
Where it is
More things to see in Sicily
Where to stay near Campobello di Mazara
Tours and activities nearby
Offers from GetYourGuide. Some links are affiliate links: if you book we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.