Erice, the only Sicilian town that has been inhabited since pre-history, sits 800 metres above sea…read morelevel on a small peak near the coastal town of Trapani. Looking to the West, you can see Trapani and the saltpans, and to the East, the rugged coastline of Northern Sicily. The oldest structure in the town is the protective thick boundary wall which dates back to Punic times. Since then, the town has been home to the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, the Greeks and the Romans, the Arabs, and the Normans. It has been an important strategic spot for many nations, due mainly to the harbour below and the difficulty in mounting any attack against the town because of its position on top of the hill. The Normans built a huge castle on the peak which improved the defences and now offers views worth the climb. Although the village is small in size, between the 12th and 17th Centuries more that 60 churches were built in and around Erice. The cathedral, constructed in the 14th Century, has a magnificent front portal and a separate Gothic style bell tower which stands a few metres from the entrance. Erice is cobbled streets, arched passageways, narrow laneways, cool breezes, stunning views, and lovely sunsets over the Western Mediterranean. Here you can get away from the noise, filth, decay and pollution that unfortunately characterises many Sicilian towns and cities.

Erice is a fascinating city set high in the mountainous region of western Sicily - near Trapani…read more You can take a local coach bus from Trapani to Erice. I stayed there for a few nights, as my mother had lived there as a young child and I wanted to get a 'feel for the place'. Loved it!!! The pastries are the absolute best ... and worth the trip.

"The Fountain of Shame" because a number of the statues here are rather undressed. The "Praetorian…read moreFountain" was originally created for the garden of don Luigi de Toledo of Florence in 1551. In 1573, the fountain was sold to the city of Palermo and reinstalled after it was moved. A restoration was completed in 2003. According to our tour guide, a recent Dolce & Gabbana runway took place here. Which I would totally understand as the Piazza is quite lovely. Well worth a stop to check it out and photograph. [Review 12821 overall, 136 of 2020.]

We found this gorgeous fountain as we walked along the Via Maqueda. It is a very busy area filled…read morewith tourists most every day. There are horse drawn carriages that you can rent for a very nice ride to see area located right on the street.

Visited the Palermo Cathedral while in town and wow -- it's absolutely beautiful. The architecture…read moreand deep history are truly stunning, and its UNESCO status feels well-deserved. We wandered for a while and found plenty of great photo spots. Entry is paid, but worth it. Definitely a must-see when in Palermo. Saluti!

Beautiful! The interior, and the altars were amazing. There are crypts of two kings from the tenth…read moreand eleventh century there. The silver altar needs to be seen to be believed. This church is definitely worth the visit!

Probably the most spectacular and over-the-top of Palermo's amazing Sicilian baroque churches,…read moreespecially for its stuccoed and frescoed ceiling and elaborately decorated side chapels. Not to be missed.

Our group left Agrigento and went to Selinunte. This was an impressive location but the temple was…read morenot as well preserved. It is definitely worth the visit and the surrounding locations as beautiful. This is another must see place if you are on the south coast of Sicily.

Possibly my favorite attraction in Sicily. I really enjoy this. While there are slightly better…read morepreserved Greek style archeological sites, few offer its raw character.

The Duomo Monreale is the main attraction in Monreale if you make it a destination point while…read moretraveling throughout the island. The Cathedral is located centrally in the small town of Monreale which is located on the slope of Monte Caputo about 12 miles outside of Palermo. The Cathedral is considered one of greatest existing examples of Norman architecture and is a national monument. It is beautifully preserved and the dome inside and the cloisters outside are especially beautiful. The church is not always open and is closed around lunchtime. Make sure to check the times it is open to the public to avoid waiting.

When we stopped in Sicily, we took the tour from Palermo to Monreale. We had no idea what was in…read morestore, but could've easily guessed that a large cathedral would be involved...and we weren't disappointed. Ha! The Duomo Monreale is another gorgeous cathedral on the side of a mountain. The tour bus drops you off at a lot below it and you have to walk up a small street with tourist trap shops on the way up to the cathedral. We ignored the shops and went directly to the cathedral so we could spend as much time inside. We were blown away at how beautiful this place was. Intricate art and finishes are all over the interior. How could there have been so many master craftsmen back then? What happened to this talent? Why do we make such crappy, uninspired buildings now? These are some of the many things I pondered while admiring the place. Overall, it was another solid monument to visit. Return Factor - 100%

Our first stop with the rental car after leaving Palermo, we headed almost directly to Erice…read more Nearly 2500 feet above sea level and accessed by road (lots of fun switchbacks!), the city was first conquered in 831 and ruled by Arabs until the Normans came along in 1167. Two castles survive here, the Pepoli Castle from the Saracen times and the Venus Castle that dates from that Norman period. As we were here during off season in January, parking was easy and the streets were nearly empty. Of course, that meant that nearly all the restaurants and sites were closed. We still enjoyed walking through the ancient streets and did find a gift shop that was open. A cafe/bar looked interesting as well. One of my favorite stops on our drive and something completely unexpected and fun. [Review 12805 overall, 119 of 2020.]

Beautiful medieval town on a hill over viewing the City of Trapani. The town is absolutely…read moregorgeous. Restaurants, shopping places, and museums are all over. A 'must stop' if you are in Trapani. Do not leave Sicily without seeing 'Erice.'

They are absolutely not kidding about the park closing at 16:00. We arrived and the gates were…read moreclosed. And no, you can't park in the lot and walk around the gates as there is a security guard present. That's a real bummer as even for January, it was still light for another 90 minutes at least and we came a long way. Nope. So if you're coming, get here during posted hours. [Review 12816 overall, 130 of 2020.]