Surroundings
The Beaches
The bathing season in the Trapani area begins in May and lasts until September-October.
The beautiful, typically Mediterranean climate welcomes tourists and visitors along its entire coastline.
From the small beach of San Liberale near the Tower of Ligny, to the beach of San Giuliano, with its bathing lidos, to the beautiful coves that line the entire coastline leading to Makari, San Vito Lo Capo and the Zingaro Nature Reserve.
The Procession of Mysteries
It is repeated every year and great is the anticipation in Trapani for Good Friday . The procession of the Mysteries,one of the most secular processions depicting the passion and death of Christ,whose protagonists are the 18 sculptural groups plus 2 simulacra,made of wood ,cloth and glue between the 17th and 18th centuries by Trapani’s master craftsmen,goes on.The Good Friday procession goes on for about 24 hours through the streets of the city,accompanied by the characteristic funeral marches sung by bands.
Erice
Ancient medieval village overlooking the city of Trapani,a marvelous terrace overlooking the sea with an equally marvelous backdrop of salt pans and the Egadi Islands that frame one of Italy’s most beautiful villages.
What definitely sets it apart are the cyclopean walls from the Punic-Phoenician Elymian period,the 12th-13th century Norman castle built on the remains of the Roman temple of Venus from which it takes its name and the castle and balio (medieval) towers.
Aegadian Islands
A few miles from Trapani are the three jewels of the Egadi archipelago: Favignana ,Levanzo and Marettimo,three islands of unparalleled beauty. An expanse of uncontaminated waters,with Caribbean colors that guard a diverse and colorful marine flora and fauna thanks to which the Marine Protected Area was established,the largest in Europe.
Islands rich in colors,scents but also traditions. Favignana famous for its tuna fisheries,tuna production and preservation. Levanzo,most famous for the Grotta del Genovese,dating from the Neo-Paleolithic age and known for its graffiti and wall paintings. Marettimo,a popular destination for hiking and diving in its fascinating caves.
Segesta
The ancient city of Segesta was founded by the Elymians in the 5th century BC. C.
The old city stands on Mount Barbaro, where recent excavations conducted by the Soprintendenza and the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa have uncovered important findings.
Segesta is about 30 kilometers from Trapani and about 15 kilometers from Alcamo and Castellammare del Golfo.
Of particular beauty are the Temple, in Doric style, and the Theater where classical plays and national events are held during the summer months.
Selinunte
Selinunte was founded in 650 B.C. by Diodorus Siculus; it is located near the mouth of the river where the wild parsley (selinon) that gave the waterway and the city its name still grows.
Greek urban planning ranks at the highest level in the history of town planning. The incredible number and quality of Doric-style temples is a distinctly Selinuntine peculiarity.
The Archaeological Park of Selinunte, with an area of about 270 hectares, constitutes the largest Archaeological Park in Europe.
The sculptures found in the excavations at Selinunte are mainly in the National Archaeological Museum in Palermo, while the most famous work, the Ephebe of Selinunte is displayed at the Civic Museum of Castelvetrano.
The Park is accessed through two entrances. The first is located in the hamlet of Marinella di Selinunte. The second, on the other hand, is located in the hamlet of Borgo di Triscina.
About 11 kilometers from Selinunte are the Cave di Cusa, a rocky calcarenite bank that was used for Selinuntine buildings and columns from Doric times.
Mozia
The Island of Mozia is one of the main archaeological sites in the Mediterranean, falling within the “Salt Route,” which connects Trapani to Marsala.
There are numerous archaeological values on the Island, buildings and monuments dating from the eighth century BC to the third century BC.
In addition, alongside its extraordinary historical-archaeological and cultural importance, it has considerable environmental and scenic significance, being located in the heart of the “Oriented Nature Reserve of the Stagnone Islands,” and such a perfect balance between culture and nature places it at the top of international tourist interest.
The site is marked by several characterizations that are difficult to find all together in other territorial areas, which contribute to its unique character.
The island’s museum displays the Young Man of Mozia, which was exhibited in Venice for the Phoenicians exhibition, in London for the Olympics and at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
San Vito Lo Capo
It is located on the west coast of Sicily, on the peninsula of the same name that ends with Capo San Vito, with the Gulf of Macari to the west and the Zingaro Nature Reserve and the Gulf of Castellammare to the east. There is a three-kilometer long golden sand beach. In addition to the sea and the crystal clear beach, San Vito Lo Capo is most famous for the Cous Cous Fest held every year in late September, attracting thousands of tourists.
Scopello
Scopello, from the Greek Scopelos, (rocks), takes its name from the two beautiful stacks that emerge from the crystal-clear waters of the bay, where there is one of the oldest and most important tuna fisheries in Sicily, existing for about eight centuries.
The history of this hamlet is very ancient. The earliest artifacts attesting to the presence of man in these lands were found in the Uzzo Cave in the Zingaro Nature Reserve, accessed directly from Scopello.
The small village, perched above the sea, develops around a beautiful baglio from the 17th century and an ancient watering hole. Here, the tourist, through its narrow alleys, is immersed in the colors of unspoiled nature and typical Mediterranean scents. From the village, there is a spectacular view of the famous Faraglioni rocks, the tuna fishery and the imposing Gulf of Castellammare.
Castellammare del Golfo
Described by historians and geographers of antiquity, such as Ptolemy, Diodorus Siculus, and Strabo, Castellammare del Golfo began as an emporium of Segesta, a city with which it shared history until its fall.
The Arabs, occupied it starting in 827 A.D., giving it the name Al Madarig, or “The Steps” who built the first nucleus of the Castle, erected in the 10th century on the ruins of pre-existing buildings and later expanded by the Normans. The building stood on a rocky outcrop close to the sea, connected to the mainland by a wooden drawbridge, which was replaced with the masonry bridge that still gives access to the castle today. Today the castle houses the museum complex “The Memory of the Mediterranean.”
A short distance away are sites of special interest such as the tuna fishery of Scopello, the Segesta archaeological park, the Zingaro reserve, and the Segestane Baths, where sulfur water, at a temperature of about 44 °C, feeds two thermal pools and the Grotta Regina, a natural sauna from Roman times.
Marsala
The city stands on the site of ancient Lilybaeum, built by the Carthaginians after Mozia was destroyed by Dionysius I in 397 BC. C..
It was given its present name by the Arabs, who called it Marsa-Allah (port of God).
Places to visit include the elegant Piazza della Repubblica, the heart of the city, which is overlooked by the town hall and the majestic Mother Church dedicated to St. Thomas of Canterbury; the Museum of Flemish Tapestries, where a series of 8 tapestries from the 16th century is on display; and the Old Market: a fish market during the day, while in the evening it comes alive with nightlife through numerous small bars where you can listen to music, drink and eat until late.
Very interesting is a visit to Baglio Anselmi, an ancient wine-making establishment, now the Regional Archaeological Museum, where the wreck of the Punic ship and numerous archaeological finds are on display.
Not to be missed is a guided tour of wine cellars, full of history and charm, where you can taste the famous marsala wine in its different types with pairings of typical dishes.
Mazara del Vallo
The Phoenicians, made Mazara an important merchant emporium between the 6th and 5th centuries B.C., baptizing it with the name Mazar, or the “fortress.”
Later conquered by the Carthaginians and later by the Romans. In the Middle Ages it was occupied by the Arabs (827), who made it the center of a vast administrative district (Val di Mazara); the Normans raised it to an episcopal see, transferring the see from Lilybaeum.
The urban center still retains the characteristic Arab-derived urban development, in which is the Casbah with its intricate maze of narrow streets.
Of particular note is Piazza della Repubblica in which is the Seminario dei Chierici, the Bishop’s Palace and the Cathedral inside which can be admired the marble complex of six statues by Antonino Gaggini.
Of extraordinary interest is the statue of the Dancing Satyr, a splendid bronze statue dating from the Hellenistic period, datable to the late 4th century BC. C. and attributable to the school of the great artist Praxiteles. Recovered from the bottom of the Sicilian Channel at a depth of about 500 meters, it is currently on display in the museum of the same name in Plebiscito Square.
Gibellina
The present town of Gibellina Nuova was built from scratch after the 1968 earthquake and is about 11 km from the previous old town destroyed by the earthquake.
For the reconstruction of the town former mayor Ludovico Corrao had the enlightened idea of calling several world-renowned artists to Gibellina.
The city immediately became an immense laboratory for artistic experimentation and planning, where valuable artists and works renewed urban space according to an innovative perspective.
Today Gibellina Nuova, in whose urban fabric are placed more than fifty works of art, including sculptures and installations, is considered the largest open-air museum in Italy.
On the ruins of the old town, Alberto Burri created the Cretto, a work of land art that traces the streets and alleys of the old town. The Cretto, spanning 80,000 square meters, is one of the world’s most extensive works of contemporary art
Nature Reserves
The province of Trapani is characterized by the presence of as many as 10 terrestrial nature reserves (Trapani and Paceco Salt Pans Reserve, Stagnone Islands Reserve, Zingaro Reserve, Monte Cofano Reserve, Capo Feto Reserve, Preola Lake and Gorghi Tondi Reserve, Foce del Belice Reserve, Santa Ninfa Caves Reserve, Bosco d’Alcamo Reserve and Pantelleria Island Reserve), and the Egadi Islands Marine Reserve.
Worth mentioning for their special importance :
The Oriented Nature Reserve of the Salt Pans of Trapani and Paceco
Managed by the WWF, it is included in the ” Salt Route.”
Its territory is one of Sicily’s most important naturalistic heritages; myth and a millennia-old history coexist here, documenting of human settlement, starting from the first millennium B.C., when the Phoenicians, who were the first in this territory to devote themselves to the cultivation of salt, made that indispensable product for human nutrition.
Even in recent times, man has helped create a man-made landscape that enhances the environment through the creation of the windmills, the salt piles and that complex network of ponds and canals that creates an immense natural checkerboard and the isolated “bagli,” extraordinary examples of rural architecture.
Several species of birds can be seen, including the pink flamingo.
The Stagnone Islands Reserve
The reserve takes its name from the “Stagnone,” a lagoon bounded from the open sea by the Big Island, with three small islands in its interior, Mozia, Santa Maria and Schola.
It is the largest lagoon in Sicily and presents an environment of enormous naturalistic interest and scenic appeal.
In this stretch of sea, the reserve presents itself to visitors’ eyes as an almost surreal landscape, offering all its splendor: the sea, the verdant islets, the reed beds, the windmills, the white salt dunes, and the spectacular sunsets that dye the sky the colors of purple, gold, and turquoise.
The Gypsy Nature Reserve
The Zingaro Nature Reserve is one of the most original and unspoiled environments that connote the most “Sicilian” habitat in Sicily, consisting of a varied mix of lush valleys, low hills and rugged, wild landscapes.
The limestone massifs that tower above it form the backdrop to a series of beautiful gulfs characterized by a coastal strip marked by low cliffs and deep expanses of fine sand that lap against a clear, pristine sea.
The plant landscape, rare and varied endemic flora, and resident and migratory fauna make this reserve one of the most important biotypes in Sicily; a unicum that constitutes an ecological niche that must be preserved and enhanced.
The Egadi Islands Marine Reserve
The Egadi Islands Marine Protected Area is the largest marine reserve in Europe.
This extraordinary marine area, presence a valuable habitat and of considerable interest for its biodiversity.
The seabed is home to the protected habitat of the largest and best-preserved posidonia oceanica prairie in the Mediterranean, which represents, like an immense underwater forest, the green lung of our seas as it plays a crucial role in the balance of the marine ecosystem.
In addition to producing oxygen and absorbing CO2, it provides an ideal breeding habitat for numerous fish species.
Among the protected animal species in the Egadi Islands, the presence of the extremely rare monk seal and the sea turtle Caretta Caretta has been established since 2011.
The Marine Protected Area is divided into four zones (A, B, C and D) at different levels of protection and with different access possibilities and limitations in usability.
THE FOOD AND WINE PRODUCTS
Trapani gastronomy is famous for the variety of its dishes.
Here, the “contamination” of peoples and cultures have allowed the creation of typical recipes that are impossible to enjoy in other parts of Italy.
Among typical products, it is fish that dominates most of the dishes in Trapani’s cuisine. Seafood-based appetizers as well as first and second courses can be enjoyed in various typical restaurants and trattorias.
The particularly favorable climate and the savoriness of the sea help to provide the products of the land and fish with a particularly appreciated taste and an absolute variety of ingredients, which enable the creation of very appetizing dishes.
The two main dishes of Trapani cuisine are fish cous cous and “busiate cu’ l’agghia,” or Trapani-style pesto.
Among the typical products should be mentioned :
Fresh t una and tuna products (tuna botargo, tuna bresaola, smoked bluefin tuna, and tuna salami), arancine of various flavors, eggplant caponata, “pane cunzatu,” delicious cheeses, including “Vastedda del Belice,” and many others.
The ingredients that are used in the kitchen range fromred garlic from Nubia, capers from Pantelleria, salt and oil, to desserts, made mostly from ricotta(Sicilian cannoli and cassate) and almond paste.But good food must always be paired with good wine.
In the Trapanese area there is the largest wine cultivation on the island. The grape varieties grown are Grillo, Cattarratto, Damaschino, Trebbiano, Inzolia, Cabernet Sauvignon, Nerello Mascalese, Frappato, Merlot and Zibibibbo
Excellent DOC wines are produced here: the Alcamo Doc, Erice Doc, Salaparuta Doc and the famous Marsala.
