The medieval eagle's nest of Erice (city guide)

The combination of the medieval town, the historic castles and fortresses, and the breathtaking views makes Erice a special destination for travelers. It is located like an eagle's nest at 750m above sea level, and from there you have a beautiful view of the sea and the islands in front of it. At least if the town isn't covered in clouds as it often is...

This city walk visits all the sights , both the (too many) churches and the historic walls and castles . Know that in some of those monasteries the Amaretti di Erice, the typical cookies as well as the traditional hand-woven carpets .

You can reach Erice via a winding road full of hairpin bends , but a better idea is to go there by Funivia (cable car). You will find them on the outskirts of the nearby city of Trapani. The cable car is over three kilometers long and takes you to Porta Trapani in about 10 minutes while you can enjoy the breathtaking view.

By car there is free parking on Via Gilberto Bernardini.

Start at Porta Trapani , one of the three surviving medieval city gates. We immediately arrive at the Torre di Re Federico and the Santa Maria Assunta cathedral , which we pass again at the end of the walk. We turn into Via Vittorio Emamuale , the main street of the city.

Passing a number of churches we arrive at the other side of the city in the Giardino del Balio park, where the Balio towers, the Castello di Venere and the stylish Torretta Pepoli attract all the attention. We also get a nice view of the hinterland.

Past several churches and monasteries we descend to the panoramic viewpoint at the Spanish Quarter , a never-finished building to house soldiers. We return and from the Porta Spada we follow the medieval Mura Elimo-Puniche to the Porta Carmine and further back to the starting point.

This city walk is part of a series of city walks and tours that depart from Balestrate and Sambucco di Sicilia and are described in "Discover all the sights of western Sicily through day trips"

Be sure to consult the information about the sights once you are there . They explain what you will see!

06/2023