Archaeology Week

A week dedicated to archaeology

The Archaeology Week is one of the highlights of the cultural summer in Tusa, a small town on the Tyrrhenian coast in the Province of Messina, Sicily. For seven days, from July 13 to 19, 2026, the focus shifts to the Halaesa Arconidea Archaeological Area, one of the most important and fascinating sites in northern Sicily. The event is part of the rich Estate Alesina 2026 programme, which Tusa was the first municipality on the island to approve and present.

Halaesa Arconidea, a city over two millennia old

Founded in 403 BC by Archonides on a hill overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, Halaesa was among the first Sicilian cities to ally with Rome during the First Punic War, obtaining the status of civitas libera et immunis, with autonomy and tax exemption. Today, the area reveals evidence of its former grandeur: the theatre, the imposing agora, the large thermal complex (among the most extensive in Sicily), the temples of the northern acropolis, and the fortification walls. The site is still the subject of excavation campaigns conducted by Italian and international university missions.

What the week offers

Archaeology Week transforms the archaeological area into a vast space open to discovery. While the day-by-day programme for the 2026 edition is still being finalised, the initiative is traditionally dedicated to:

• Guided tours of the archaeological park and the Antiquarium, recounting the history of Halaesa;
• Activities and workshops for children and teenagers, also as part of the summer School of Archaeology planned by the Municipality;
• In-depth sessions on the history and excavations of the site;
• promoting the connection between the Blue Flag sea of Tusa and its archaeological heritage.

In the heart of Estate Alesina

The week is part of a summer packed with events in Tusa: from the Sicilian Song Festival to food festivals, from the Book Festival to theatrical performances hosted right among the ruins of Halaesa. For those visiting the Tyrrhenian coast of Messina, it is an opportunity to combine the beauty of the sea with the millennial history of one of Sicily's oldest cities.