Elymo-Punic Walls

These walls encircle the central nucleus of the 'peak' for about 800 metres with three openings, Porta Trapani, Porta Carmine and Porta Spada, and are of very ancient origin. The subject of in-depth archaeological investigations, they are dated to a period before the advent of the Punics and therefore date between the 8th and 6th centuries BC.
To the 6th and 5th se. B.C. could also be dated the Punic letters engraved on some stone blocks. Remodels in Roman and medieval times have been identified and conservative restorations (1877 and 1922) have determined its current appearance. Between 2 and 3 m thick, the walls rest on a bed of small, rough stones without conglomerate, approximately 40 cm high. On top of this are the lower rows of large, square and fairly regular boulders. The elevation then presents a second part formed by small blocks arranged rather regularly in a horizontal manner.