4 Best Sights in The Tyrrhenian Coast, Sicily

Not far from Termini is the hamlet of Buonfornello, a fascinating archaeological site that includes the remains of the ancient city of Himera, founded by Greek settlers in 648 BC. Hannibal later destroyed ancient Himera in 409 BC, and the surviving population moved to the nearby thermal springs, which later became Termini Imerese. The outdoor archaeological area houses the ruins of many Roman temples and buildings. The more important items recovered from the excavations are housed in the on-site museum and in another rather neglected museum located across the SS113 road. Artifacts include bronze and ceramic vases and intricate artworks made with other precious metals.

Once a vital part of the city's defenses, today Collesano's medieval castle is a picturesque ruin that makes for an evocative exploration of the town's topography and history. The castle's impressively thick walls are on the north side of the town in front of the town's original parish church. The castle was built during the 12th century by King Roger II of Sicily after he decided to move his administration to a more strategic place to head off invasions from North Africa and the Middle East. What remains of this original project are the remains of a series of defensive buildings in a small medieval neighborhood, making it a fascinating place to visit.

This late-Roman villa was accidentally unearthed during construction work for the nearby autostrada in the early 1980s, and the archaeological area has since recovered a complete Roman aristocratic home. The villa is filled with fascinating details, including mosaic tiled floors, walls, and doors.

Located high above Mistretta are the ruins of this Arab-Norman castle. At over 3,000 feet above sea level, the location offers some spectacular views out to the coast and the highest peaks of the mountains from Santa Croce down to Santo Stefano di Camastra. The remaining structure of the castle gives you an idea of its original dimensions, which were built to defend the city and look out all along the coast. The castle was also connected to an extended walled perimeter that encircled the original town.