Trapani city tour.
If you want to see ancient necropolis, ancient cities, sea salt mining, go to Trapani, a province in western Sicily. There’s a city hovering in the clouds, a fortress washed by the waters of the sea, tombs of ancient people and other sights. Windmills along the coast have long been a symbol of the region. Trapani is also the centre of the Sicilian Mafia.
A major Mafia centre was in the seaside town of Castellammare del Golfo. It was the birthplace of the men who terrified all of America in the early 20th century. Among them – Vito Bonventre, Stefano Magaddino, John Tartamella. Now the work of the mafia has subsided. Nevertheless, local clans are still strong and have a firm grip on the economy of the region.
Despite the rich archaeological heritage, tourism in Trapani is only developing. The reason for this is the poor transport links to other regions of Sicily. Nevertheless, you will be fascinated by the churches, palaces and bastions.
The regional capital is home to the Museum of Optical Illusions, which many travellers recommend.
In Belice, architectural and artistic installations are housed in the open air. The exhibition is called Ghibelline Monuments and Works of Art.
The main church, the Cathedral of St Lorenzo, successfully combined elements of Baroque and Neo-Gothic architecture. Its construction began in the 15th century and was completed in the 19th century. The cathedral is large, beautiful. Inside, there is a rich altar, statues, and an oil painting of the Crucifixion by van Dyck.
The list of the most beautiful churches in the city also includes other sights:
The Church of the Jesuit College – built in the XVII century.
The Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – a building of the XIV-XVIII centuries, combining Baroque and Renaissance styles.
The Church of St Augustine – one of the oldest churches in the city, built in the XII century.
The Church of Santa Maria di Geso is an example of Romanesque style, inside which there is a beautiful glazed terracotta “Madonna degli Angeli” by Andrea della Robbia.
The Scurati Caves – inside archaeologists have found traces of human presence from the Palaeolithic period (flint tools, rock paintings, remains of pottery). The caves are located near the village of Custonaci, 20 kilometres from Trapani.
Necropolis of Contrada Stretto – located in a rock near Partanna. Inside the mountain there are tombs, Bronze Age pottery.
In Partanna there is the castle of Grifeo – within its walls is a museum with relics from the Palaeolithic era found in the area. The town is 77 kilometres from Trapani.
Grotto Genovese is on the island of Levanzo. On the walls of the cave, drawings dating from the 10th to 12th centuries B.C. have been discovered, depicting human and animal figures.
