Erice

Erice sits on an isolated peak above Trapani, and a cloud cap forms over it so often that the town is regularly walking through fog while the coast below is in sun. A sanctuary here was dedicated to a fertility goddess identified in turn as Astarte, Aphrodite and Venus, and the Norman castle was built on its site. The medieval town inside triangular walls is a grid of stone lanes with polished paving and courtyards visible through gates. Almond pastries made by a long-established local pastry maker, in a tradition passed down from convent kitchens, are the town's food speciality. A cable car climbs from Trapani.

History

The ancient Greek name was Eryx, after the hero Eryx, though the town was founded by the Phoenicians and only later largely Hellenised. The Aghlabids took it in 831 and renamed it Cebel Hamid, and after the Norman conquest it was renamed in 1167 (Wikipedia, Erice).

What's there

• The cloud cap - fog forming over the peak while the coast is clear.
• The Venus castle - a Norman fortress on an ancient sanctuary site.
• The stone lanes - polished paving and courtyards behind gates.
• The almond pastries - a convent tradition kept by local pastry makers.

When to go

April to October; the cable car closes in high wind, which is common, leaving only the winding road. Winter is cold, wet and often fully clouded.

Practical notes

The cable car stops in strong wind without warning. Views are frequently lost in cloud. Streets are steep and the paving is slippery when damp.

Nearby

The Trapani salt pans lie below; Segesta is inland.

Key facts