Segesta Archaeological Park Gains Autonomy in Sicily

The Segesta Archaeological Park in Sicily has been granted full scientific, research, managerial, administrative, and financial autonomy, becoming the fourth autonomous archaeological park in the region. Established by the government of President Nello Musumeci and Assessor of Cultural Heritage Sebastiano Tusa, the park joins the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento (2000), Naxos-Taormina (2010), and Selinunte-Cave di Cusa (2013). The 2000 regional law on archaeological parks, promoted by then-Assessor Fabio Granata, allowed for autonomous entities, but only three parks were created in 18 years. The new park at Segesta, known for its 5th-century BC Doric temple and 3rd-century BC theater, includes sites such as the sanctuary of Contrada Mango, the agora, the fortified Porta di Valle, a Greco-Roman house, and a medieval quarter with a castle, two Norman churches, and a mosque. Director General Sergio Alessandro stated that around twenty more parks are planned, starting with Syracuse and Pantelleria. A solidarity fund will redirect part of the ticket revenue from larger parks to smaller ones, inspired by the national model for state museums. The reform may extend to museums, with Riso in Palermo currently the only regional museum with autonomy. The Valley of the Temples park, directed by architect Giuseppe Parrello, received the Council of Europe Landscape Prize in 2018.