A new electronic dance music (EDM) festival is set to host its first event at an ancient temple in the Sicilian countryside.
Aura Festival has chosen the ancient Segesta Archaeological Park in the hills of Sicily as the venue for its springtime event, which includes headliners such as Francesco Del Garda, Josh Baker and Traumer.
The park is found in the Trapani area and is considered one of the most extraordinary sites of ancient Sicily. Within the park is a preserved Greek temple and theatre, which have panoramic views of the surrounding hills.
Legend has it that the city of Segesta was founded by survivors of the mythological Trojan War, although archaeologists are still unsure of the true origins of the settlement.
This mysterious site’s most outstanding feature is the Doric temple, which was built around the fifth century BC.
The site is usually open to visitors and occasionally used for theatrical performances, but this spring, the ancient world will coincide with modern dance music.
Aura Festival will run over one weekend, 1 and 2 May, from 1pm to 1am, with tickets available from €18.50 (£16) for one day or €34 (£29) for the entire weekend.
The festival will be reachable by car and public buses, while the closest airports to the site are Palermo and Trapani.
Organisers have also recommended four different accommodation options to stay at during the event, which, if booked for three nights, will include a festival ticket.
The accommodation includes a resort close to the archaeological park, a three-star hotel, a four-star resort near Castellammare beach or apartments in the port of Castellammare del Golfo.
Prices for the combined accommodation and festival entrance tickets start from €189 (£163) per person.
A spokesperson for the festival promoter, Unlocked Events, told DJ Mag that Aura was created “to forge new connections between people, music, art, and places through an experience that focuses on perception.”
“In an accelerating world, Aura chooses to slow down: it does not follow trends, but seeks meaning, depth, and balance.”
“It is about electronic music dialogues with the history of Segesta, while people and their stories intertwine in a shared space."
The Independent has contacted Aura Festival for further comment.
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