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.'

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.