Selinunte. The ruins of ancient Selinunte (Selinus), once a large settlement at the westernmost reaches of Magna Graecia, loom high on a promontory above the sparkling Mediterranean. Now one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe, it boasts one of the largest Greek temples in the world. Selinunte was founded in 628 BC and enjoyed centuries of prosperity before being reduced to rubble by the Carthaginians during the First Punic War. The city was later totally abandoned (see The Rise and Fall of Selinus), but its solid yet graceful Doric temples stand out against the bright blue sky, offering a glimpse of its former grandeur.