Morgantina

Morgantina lies in the hills near Aidone in the province of Enna. The ancient city was originally a Sicel settlement and was later settled by Greeks; it flourished in the 3rd century BC, fell to Rome in 211 BC and was largely abandoned in the 1st century BC. The remains include a street grid, the agora, a Hellenistic theatre, the ekklesiasterion (assembly steps), the market known as the macellum, pottery kilns and the prytaneion, as well as houses with mosaic floors, among them the House of Ganymede. Parts of the site are still being excavated.

The famous “Goddess of Morgantina” is not on site but in the Archaeological Museum of Aidone, housed in a former Capuchin convent. The statue, about 2.24 m tall, was taken in illegal excavations in the 1980s, ended up in the Getty Museum and has been back in Sicily since 2011. The museum also displays the acroliths of Demeter and Kore and the Hellenistic silver treasure.

The site lies a few kilometres outside Aidone; a car is much more practical than walking. According to Wikivoyage there is a combined ticket for site and museum (as of October 2026). Combine the two in one day and allow half a day to a full day. The site is quieter than many other destinations in Sicily; it is best to check opening hours in advance.