Calathamet – Segesta – Tempio Caduto

Calathamet is the town on the rock from which the waters of the Thermal Baths of Segesta flow. It’s an Arab settlement, the name tells us. If you go up from the south side, from the end of a vineyard that climbs the rock, you will be surrounded by different plants but especially wormwood, juniper and marigolds, of course just in the right season. At the top you will find an archeological site; the ruins of Calathamet. Be careful because now it is all covered by vegetation, you could get hurt. Some buildings have been restored in 1982 as indicated by a plaque at the base of a staircase that leads nowhere. You can see the walls, the perimeter walls and some of the rooms, inside which trees have grown that have become the roof of those houses. From there you can see all of Castellammare del Golfo. Strategically it must have been a great place from which to observe the access to the river, which as reported by some historians was navigable to Ponte Bagni until 1700.

Once down, head towards Ponte Bagni, and take the old road that leads to Segesta. In front of you stands the bridge of the A29, underneath piles of garbage emerge. But rather than follow the road that leads to Segesta, take a small dirt road on the right that climbs towards Mount Inici, this district is called Gagliardetta. A group of houses, an old baglio to put it in the right words, surrounded by endless rows and rows of olive trees. Try to peek inside, there might even be the owners, they are nice people. Continuing to climb towards the outer border of the reserve of Monte Inici, the road begins to descend gently. This will take you to a crossroads, take your right for Segesta. Among ancient farmhouses and modern warehouses, surrounded by huge expanses of wheat, you will pass under a bridge that is not concrete, but in stone and concrete of the Fascist era, you are on the right track. Follow the signs to the station of Segesta in disuse for years. Once there, head towards the junction of the freeway, just in front of the junction, a road climbs towards the Pispisa, take the road. At this point, you’ll begin to see the Temple standing out in front of you on the opposite side of the canyon. At this point it may already be dark, behind you there is a forest, you can spend the night there.

In the morning, with the first sun, go down into the canyon, it is very steep. As you go down, watch out for the disa because you might cut your hands. The disa is a weed, very difficult to eradicate, with very long and thin leaves from which ropes were made. During the descent you will meet a path, keep going north. You should arrive at the Vallone della Fusa, the river becomes very small and the rocks draw psychedelic bends. It’s a bit complicated but if you manage to walk along the river in a southerly direction, you’ll enter what remains of a Neolithic civilization, caves, alcoves, rudimentary stone architecture. At a certain point, keep watching the map, on your left the ruins of a majestic fallen temple, inside which houses have been built, among capitals and pieces of columns submerged by vegetation you have never seen.