Visit Segesta: the hot springs and the temple – Detailed guide
- Nature Source Chaude
- Published on
- Updated on 19 August 2025
Situated in western of Sicily, in the province of Trapani, Segesta is a town steeped in history, with several monuments dating back to ancient Greek times. There is an amphitheatre and a well-preserved temple on a rocky spur at the top of a hill.
Segesta was also famous for its thermal baths. In fact, classical baths now stand on the archaeological remains of an ancient thermal monument: Roman baths.
However, the abundance of naturally hot water gushing out around these paid thermal baths meant that a free thermal pool could be created in the middle of nature.
Without further ado, let’s discover this enchanting place which, in my opinion, has the most beautiful natural hot springs in Sicily.
Table of Contents
Segesta thermal baths
The thermal baths of Segesta have several hot springs, three of which (Bagnodelle Femmine, Grotta Regina and Nuova Sorgente) are used by the spa centre.
Near the paid baths there are other free hot springs. Known in Sicily as ‘Polle del Crimiso‘ or ‘Terme libere di Segesta‘, these free baths are sure to attract travellers in search of natural beauty.
A natural spa
To get to this beautiful place, you have to cross a stream. But it was worth it. A few metres further on, the sulphurous spring reveals itself, flowing peacefully near the entrance to the canyon. The thermal pool seems to be hidden and lost among the tall grasses that make this place truly unique.
You can also feel that the proximity of the reeds and tamarisk has a great influence on the state of the atmosphere, as it has a great influence on the soil and the stream that runs a few metres away. This elegant vegetation has a calming effect on the mind. A travertine wall adorned with colourful stripes stands at the foot of the thermal pool, adding character to this beautiful location
If you go there at dawn, you will be struck by the sight that greets you — when the clear waters turn into steam and gas, the landscape becomes visually captivating. This creates a truly special atmosphere. The visible mist caused by evaporation in the early morning serves as a reminder of the beneficial effect of the thermal spring on our lungs.
However, when the first bathers arrive (around 7-8am), the sulphurous water is subjected to turbulence, which takes away a bit of its transparency. As for the thermal vapours, they soon disappear from sight.
The sulphurous water is contained by a stone barrier, creating a large pool whose diameter and depth are are in proportion to the amount of water required. The water came up to my knees. It is large enough to hold about thirty people.
The temperature of the large pool is 40 degrees, which may seem a little hot at first. But what about some of the regulars who like to bathe in the small pool, where the temperature is even higher (43 degrees)? This small area allows you to enjoy the benefits of hyperthermic baths. But don’t overdo it (a few minutes is enough).
If you would like to find out more about the benefits of heating water during a bath, I invite you to read the article ‘The amazing health Benefits of a Hot Bath‘.
The water that feeds the pool comes from several underground veins.
Some of the water comes from a pipe set in the rock This pipe is positioned in a recess right next to the wall that borders the pool. Locals also use this pipe to fill bottles.
However, much of the water flows underground in several directions and gushes out at the bottom of the pool. Strings of bubbles, not very reassuring to the inexperienced bather, appear periodically in the water. In this way, the bather is like being immersed in a cooking pot, releasing gases that are truly healing.
In the Roman world of the early Empire, Pliny the Elder, an ancient naturalist, already described the therapeutic virtues of the hot waters of Segesta. His testimony confirmed that of Strabo, an ancient Greek geographer of the Roman period.
The waters of Segesta are also considered to be highly mineralised, radioactive, hyperthermal and sulphurous. These waters are said to treat rheumatic, dermatological and respiratory diseases, etc. To find out more about the benefits of sulphurous waters and thermal gases, read the article: How to cleanse your lungs with simple, natural ways. This spring has a rotten-egg smell (sulphurous spring) which is not very strong (between 5 and 10 mg of H₂S per litre).
Hot springs in the canyon
As you enter the canyon, the scenery is also breathtaking. As you walk up the canyon along the river bank, reeds cover parts of the river for about a hundred metres. Then, crossing the (cold) river on the right, there is a small, fairly warm pool (41 degrees). If the water is too warm, you can sit by the pool or by the river.
Further down the canyon you’ll find a small cave with a few centimetres of very hot water (42 degrees). This place is like a natural vaporarium. Unfortunately, however, the opening is slightly too large for the thermal vapours to be retained effectively. Nevertheless, it still has benefits for the respiratory tract.
Then, the cave releases thermal water onto layers of clay altered by microorganisms. You can also enjoy the sulphurous thermal mud, but it should be used in moderation.
A few dozen metres further up the canyon, there are small cascades of hot water that flow into the river. The hot water comes from the spa centre high above, close to the road. The locals have built several pools to take advantage of this area. The abundance of hot water heats up the river nicely and provides a number of good places to soak.
How to get to the Baths?
To reach this place (see also our map), you have to go to the ‘Terme Libere Segestane’ car park.
- By train: Travellers arriving by train can alight at Castellammare del Golfo station on the Palermo–Trapani line and walk to the thermal baths, which are several kilometres away.
- By bus: Travellers arriving at Alcamo bus station will need to walk several kilometres to reach the thermal baths.
- By car: Turn left just before the entrance to the spa centre of Segestane and leave your car on the side of the road before the steep descent. The ‘Terme Libere Segestane’ car park is located just a few dozen metres away, but it’s best to avoid it. It’s better to walk a bit rather than risk damaging your car, as the road is in very bad condition with large ruts.
The path then leads directly to the hot spring. The river is crossed at a place where the river bed is shallow. Large stones are placed across the river. You can cross barefoot or with water shoes. Water shoes are also essential for venturing into the canyon.
The archaeological park of Segesta: the temple
There are many ancient temples and buildings to visit in Sicily, but the one in Segesta is one of the best preserved. It is one of the island’s most popular attractions.
📝 Practical information:
Where to park?
There is a free car park right next to the entrance to the park. There is also a secure, paid car park. The attendant will show you where it is. There are also toilets and a snack bar selling sandwiches, pizzas, and drinks.
Opening hours and admission tickets:
For exact opening times, please refer to the official website. Please check the closing times, bearing in mind that a visit takes between two and three hours. Tickets can be purchased on the day from the ticket office or via various online platforms.
Access to the archaeological sites:
→ To reach the temple, you will need to walk up the hill, which takes a few minutes.
→ Allow about half an hour for the walk (1.2 km with an elevation gain of 130 m 📈) to reach the Acropolis opposite the ancient city on Mount Barbaro. There, you will find the remains of a remarkable Greek theatre, the ruins of the ancient Agora and much more besides. Most visitors take the paid shuttle bus, which runs every 30 minutes, from the park entrance to the northern Acropolis. On the way back, you can admire the temple from a distance without too much effort by taking this route on foot. You can also enjoy the incredible scenery.
A ramp near the entrance to the park provides quick access to the top of the hill, where the picturesque Doric temple is located. From here, you can enjoy beautiful, unobstructed views of the surrounding hills, some of which are barren and others wooded.
This magnificent monument, with its beautiful design, was built in the 5th century BC, during a period of flourishing Greek art. Over two-and-a-half millennia later, not a single one of its 36 columns has fallen.
Other than that, the Ancients provided us with hardly any information about this unfinished temple or the objects that may have been stored inside it.
It is said that ancient temples served as citadels, providing a place of refuge and defence when the city was captured. One might wonder whether this temple played a part in the conflicts between Segesta and its rival, Selinunte — the latter of which was allied with Syracuse. Selinunte and Syracuse were two more Greek cities that housed numerous temples, the remains of which can be visited today. There are many archaeological parks with temples in Sicily.
Theatre performances are sometimes held at the theatre in the summer, but that evening, I was fortunate enough to attend a musical performance at the temple instead. It was a unique experience that made me appreciate the venue even more.
