Hellenistic-Roman Monumental Necropolis of Via del Fante

The archaeological area of the monumental necropolis of Via del Fante, excavated in 1974, is one of the most fascinating of the Hellenistic-Roman necropolis of Lilybaeum because of the monumentality and architectural variety of the tombs. The burials, which cover a chronological span from the 3rd century B.C. to the 2nd century A.D., include both cremations and burials. The funerary monuments, often in the form of stepped plinths, are made of calcarenite blocks and covered with white plaster. In the southern part of the area, three large monumental burial plinths remain, one of which was possibly pertaining to a tholos mausoleum, of Corinthian-Italic order. Significant architectural fragments, such as those pertaining to the tholos and a large rose window with relief petals, are on display in the Archaeological Museum. A visit to this area, therefore, offers an opportunity to explore a large portion of the Roman necropolis by discovering funerary traditions and monumental architecture.