Porta Spada - Erice

Porta Spada is named after the massacre of the Angevins during the War of Vespro in 1282. The French soldiers who occupied Erice were put to the 'sword' . Hence the name Porta Spada.

Folklore has passed down a story in memory of these executions. The population had a deep aversion to the Angevine soldiers. The inhabitants of Erice devised a ruse to find the 'agioini' who were hiding among the population. At Porta Spada they forced everyone to say 'cicira' , a Sicilian term for chickpeas that is difficult for the French to pronounce because of the double 'ci'. And during the Vespers Rebellion they were killed without much ifs and buts. With the 'edge of the sword', in fact.

The city gates should be considered an integral part of Erice's impregnable city walls. Specifically, the visible gates of the village of Erice are: Porta Trapani, which opens towards the provincial capital, Porta Spada refers to the massacre caused by the Angevins during the 'Vespro' uprising in the area. Finally, Porta Carmine, located opposite the church of the same name, is characterized by the niche with the limestone statue of St. Alberto (now headless) that dominates it.

Then there is a fourth gate , which has recently come to light: it is Porta Castellammare, of which very little remains today.

However, originally there were five gates. The fifth gate , which no longer exists today, was demolished in 1811 during the construction of the road connecting the city center of Erice with the city of Trapani. It was the gate of the Capuchins . It led to the monastery of the Capuchin brothers, where today, in addition to the church, the cemetery is located. Exactly called, from the Capuchins. There is nothing left of this gate.

Willem Vandenameele