The ancient Tyndaris (396 a.C.), so called in honour of Tindaro, king of Messenia and father of
Elena, Clitennestra and the Dioscuri (Castore and Polluce), was founded by mercenaries from Messene of
Dionigi I the old, tyrant of Syracuse, for whom they fought in his expansionistic wars and by
whom they were compensated with a territory where they founded a new town.
It had to be both a strategic and crucial outpost for the military purposes of Dionigi I and a
place from which to be able to manage the whole maritime traffic of that triangle composed of the
Calavā Cape, the Eolian Islands and the Milazzo Cape.
Currently it is possible to visit its archaeological excavations, include the Greek theatre that represents not only an authentic jewel for the Hellenistic art, but also, thanks to the good acoustic performances, a centre of theatrical and musical representations.
The Roman Villa of Patti Marina, come to the light only a few decades ago, is datable to the IV
century A.D. "period of maximum splendour"; it is well known all over the world for its extension and beauty
and for all the great problems opened in the field of archaeology and history.
Erected in the imperial age, it rises on the ruines of preexisting constructions, of which lines of
walls and the floors are visible today; there are also mosaics with geometric motives, probably work of
Sicilian shops.
The various excavations allow us to recognize at least three separate building phases, in fact in a room there is a very ancient mosaic which is seriously damaged; the damage is probably due to following phases of construction of the Villa. There is currently work in progress that will discover new parts of the Villa.
