Erice

Achille Parboni · CC BY-SA 4.0

Erice, TP

Erice is a medieval village on a peak of about 750 metres, with a view stretching from the Trapani salt pans to the Egadi Islands. Clouds often wrap around it, which gives it a suspended, timeless air.

The paved streets are narrow and well kept, with flowered courtyards and stone churches. Here stood a very ancient sanctuary dedicated to a goddess of love, later called Venus; on its site today stands the Castello di Venere.

Erice is also famous for its almond-paste sweets, made by hand in the pastry shops of the centre. You get there by the scenic road from Trapani, with stops at the viewpoints, or by cable car.

• Always accessible (historic centre, with limited car access). The Castello di Venere and the museums have their own opening hours.
• 3-4 hours
• Free entry
• Spring and autumn; in summer, better in the evening
• Paved lanes going uphill; you get around the centre on foot.
• The summit is often wrapped in mist: check the weather before going up. From Trapani you can take the cable car, avoiding the road with its hairpin bends. Try the genovesi and the almond paste in the pastry shops of the centre.