Museo archeologico della Valle dell’Eleuterio – Castello Beccadelli Bologna

Archaeological museum in the 16th-century castle of Marineo with finds from the ancient Makella and other settlements in the Eleuterio valley.

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About the museum

The museum is housed in the Castello Beccadelli Bologna, a 16th-century building in the centre of Marineo, acquired by the Sicilian Region’s state property (demanio) and now managed by the Parco archeologico di Himera, Solunto e Iato. Its rooms hold material from Makella and from other settlements along the valley of the Eleuterio river, a natural axis linking the northern Tyrrhenian coast with the interior of the island.

The Montagnola hill, north-west of the modern town, has been identified with the indigenous city of Makella thanks to roof tiles bearing inscriptions in Greek letters. Its defensive walls date from the late Archaic period and were reinforced at the beginning of the Hellenistic age; they were destroyed around the middle of the 3rd century BC during the First Punic War, and partly reused from the Norman period onwards.

Near the south-eastern walls a votive deposit from the late 6th century BC was found, containing greaves, three bronze helmets, a votive small shield and an ivory plaque with a crouching ram. A public building with terraces and a large barrel-vaulted cistern from the mid-4th century BC are also known from the area.

Highlights

Finds from Makella and the Eleuterio valley
16th-century Castello Beccadelli Bologna
Montagnola archaeological area with Archaic and Hellenistic walls
Votive deposit with bronze helmets and greaves
Large barrel-vaulted cistern

Permanent exhibition

Museo archeologico della Valle dell’Eleuterio – Finds from Makella and other settlements in the Eleuterio valley, displayed in the 16th-century castle.

Operated by: Parco archeologico di Himera, Solunto e Iato (Regione Siciliana)