In the Footsteps of Antiquity: 3 Days through Gela, Morgantina and the Villa Romana del Casale

An itinerary through the heart of Sicily, between Greek cities, Roman mosaics, and landscapes that tell 3,000 years of history.

An itinerary through the heart of Sicily, between Greek cities, Roman mosaics, and landscapes that tell 3,000 years of history.

There are places in Sicily where history isn’t just read in books — it can be touched. Where every stone tells of an empire, every ruin reveals a ritual, and every mosaic brings to life distant times.
“In the Footsteps of Antiquity” is a three-day itinerary designed for those who want to experience the most authentic Sicily: the island’s inland heart, between Caltanissetta and Enna, where ancient civilizations left remarkably well-preserved traces.

The journey begins in Gela, a powerful Greek colony founded in 689 BC, and continues to Aidone, to explore Morgantina, one of the most fascinating Hellenistic sites in the Mediterranean. The third stop leads to the Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina, a masterpiece of Late Roman art and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Three days, three stops, and one common thread: the great history of the Mediterranean, told through an itinerary perfect for lovers of cultural travel, archaeology, and slow discovery.

Each stop offers not only a dive into the past but also into local traditions: from the golden countryside of Caltanissetta to the rolling hills of Enna’s hinterland, among olive groves, almond trees, and small villages where time seems to stand still.

Stage 1 – Gela: the ancient Greek Colony

Founded by Rhodian and Cretan settlers in the 7th century BC, Gela quickly became one of the most influential cities of ancient Sicily, powerful enough to found Akragas (modern-day Agrigento).

Among its most spectacular archaeological remains are the Timolean Walls, a remarkable example of 4th-century BC defensive architecture, and the Acropolis of Molino a Vento, where the ruins of temples and artisan quarters still stand.

At Bosco Littorio, the site of an ancient trading port, you can still feel the scent of the sea and the commercial exchanges that made the polis famous across the Mediterranean.

Don’t miss the Regional Archaeological Museum of Gela, home to Greek, Corinthian, and Attic artefacts that narrate the daily life of this once-great power of Magna Graecia.

Stage 2 – Morgantina and Aidone: Between Greece and Rome

Leaving the coast behind, the journey heads into the hills of Aidone, where the mysterious city of Morgantina rises. Founded in the 6th century BC, the city was inhabited until Roman times and later abandoned—today, it appears almost untouched, as if suspended in time.

Among the ruins, you can admire the Hellenistic theatre, the agora (marketplace), public baths, and aristocratic houses.

Not far from the site, the Archaeological Museum of Aidone displays true masterpieces: the famous Venus of Morgantina, the Acroliths of Demeter and Kore, the Head of Hades, and a refined treasure of Hellenistic silverware.

A place that blends the allure of myth with the silence of a forgotten city.

Stage 3 – Piazza Armerina: The Roman Villa of Casale

In the green heart of the Enna hinterland lies one of the most extraordinary ancient sites: the Villa Romana del Casale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Its polychrome mosaics depict scenes of hunting, sports, and daily life with a level of refinement unmatched in the Roman world.
From the famous “Bikini Girls” mosaic to representations of chariot races, every room is an open window onto the Imperial Age.

Just a few kilometers away, the archaeological area of Sofiana reveals the more “practical” side of Roman life: a productive and commercial center along the ancient Catania–Agrigento route.

A perfect finale for those wishing to end their journey with the awareness of having walked through History.