 The city sits atop a lofty hill of steep and difficult ascent, about 5 km from the Tyrrhenian Sea.This position exactly accords with that described by Cicero, who tells that Verres would not take the trouble to visit the town himself "quod erat difficili ascensu atque arduo", but remained on the beach below while he sent Archagathus to execute his behests.Various inscriptions also are preserved at the site, or have been discovered there, one of which begins with the words .