Trapani is an ancient city placed in the western part of Sicily separating with a strip the Tyrrhenian sea from the Mediterranean one.

Trapani is placed in the Castellammare Gulf including in its territory also the islands called Egadi and Pantelleria that are well-known for their beautiful landscape and for their crystalline sea full of delicious fish.

You should visit Trapani not only for its wonderful nature but also for its historical centre full of monuments, palaces and churches.

This city has very ancient origins and its first name was Drèpanon because it is shaped like a sickle.

Today Trapani has many economical activities that are firstly concentrated in its port with its fishing boats specialized in the tuna fishing.

Another important economical factor is represented by the presence of the famous salt pans: the most beautiful among them can be admired in the Natural Reserve of Trapani and Paceco.

The Trapani historical centre is quite completely baroque and its main streets are Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Torrearsa street and Garibaldi street where you can find many shops, historical palaces and prestigious churches, some examples are: the Cavarretta Palace (a baroque building that dates back to the XV century), the Cathedral, the Lucatelli Palace, the College church, the Purgatory Church, the church of Santa Maria di Gesù and the Saturno fountain.

The church of the Jesuits College dates back to the XVII century being characterized by a beautiful baroque façade. In its three aisles internal space there are some remarkable XVIII century marble altars and in the main one of them you can admire a bas-relief representing the Immaculate Conception by Marabutti.

The cathedral dedicated to San Lorenzo was built is in 1421 and it is closed to the Episcopal Palace (Palazzo Vescovile).

In the ancient Hebraic district you should admire the Giudecca Palace built during the XVI century according to the typical Spanish Plateresc style.

You can also see the church of Santa Maria del Gesù where there is a glazed terra-cotta work representing the Madonna degli Angeli made by Andrea della Robbia.

The Sanctuary of the Annunziata dates back to the XIV century, while its rose window and its main door were made during the XV century and its bell tower was built in 1650. Inside this church you can admire many wonderful chapels full of masterpieces: the most famous among them is the Holy Mary Chapel. On the main altar there is the statue of the Virgin Mother: this is the Virgin of Trapani made by Nino Pisano and very venerated by the inhabitants, this is a real sculpture’s masterpiece. This sanctuary was built together with the contiguous monastery that today is the seat of the National Pepoli Museum where you can find archaeological finds, sculptures and paintings. For its striking rooms and for the rich variety of its collections, this is considered one of the most important museum in Sicily. After having visited the first floor art gallery you should visit the beautiful collection of coral creations (jewels, sacred objects and crib statues) that testify the artistic quality reached by the Trapani artisans.

Near the historical centre there is Villa Margherita where there is an artificial pond full of duckling and swans. In these gardens there also are some aviaries containing different species of birds and coloured capercaillies. Here you will be surrounded by majestic trees imported from Asia, America and from other foreign countries. An area of these gardens is used as a seat for musical and culture events organized by the local institution called ” Luglio Musicale Trapanese” (Musical Trapani July) that every year offers to music and theatre lovers the best local and international artists performances.

The Colombaia Castle was built by the Carthaginian Amilcare Barca (Hannibal’s father) on a little island to defend the Trapani Port.  This tower has an octagonal shape due to the Aragonese influences. He also built the Peliade tower that today is used as the port lighthouse.

Which one called Colombaia is just one of the ancient Trapani Five Towers: some of them are still visible like the Ligny Tower built in 1671 where there is the Prehistory Museum, the Impossible Bastion ( built on a marshy soil where building was quite impossible), the Pali Tower (today destroyed), and the Castello di Terra Tower visible only from the sea.

One of the marvels of Trapani surely is its coast characterized by an uncontaminated sea: the nearest beach is which one of S.Giuliano with its very fine sand that extends for 2 km. You can also go for a walk on the Dante Alighieri seafront where you can see a wonderful landscape.

Many important sailing competitions took place on this beautiful sea like the 32th American’s cup and the Luis Vitton act 8&9 together with several speedboat racings like the Rally Raid Diporto Competition.

During the afternoon you can watch the beautiful Sicilian sunsets that surround the ancient mills and the Egadi islands profiles.

Which ones called Egadi are three islands very closed to the Trapani coast. You can reach them in very few minutes leaving from the Trapani port: once arrived there you will be surrounded by a unique uncontaminated atmosphere where time goes by very slowly. Other beautiful islands are Pantelleria and Favignana that is the most famous one of this archipelago with its wonderful sea and its butterfly shape. This is the ideal destination for those who want to unify relax and amusement because this island will offer them all its lidos and its restaurants and night clubs.

Moreover staying in Trapani you can also visit several parks as the Zingaro Oriented Natural Reserve, the Natural Reserve of Pantelleria and the Marine Riserve of the Egadi Islands. In all these parks you can make excursions admiring their incredible variety of  vegetal and animal species.

Traditions

One of the most typical local traditions is the “Processione dei Misteri” (the “Mysteries Procession“) that starts on the Good Friday lasting for 24 hours. For this reason it is defined the lengthiest religious event in Europe. This procession parades for 2 km throughout the historical centre streets carrying 18 wooden statues representing the Cross Stations called “Mysteries”. The two main statues (representing the Madonna Addolorata and the Christ’s sepulchre) are carried on shoulders by the Massari (odd-job men). Every group called “Mystery” is followed by its own musical band that plays its own funeral pieces.

Gastronomy

Among the typical local products there are the Pantelleria capers, the Nubia red garlic, the salt, the delicious olive oil and the several desserts made up by ricotta cheese and almonds. You can also taste the different cheeses produced in this zone and the fresh fish of this beautiful sea. One of the most famous and appreciated dishes is the couscous with fish. This is an Arab recipe that needs a long and laborious preparation: the couscous should be steamed in the proper pan. Once cooked it is served with fish and shellfish cooked in the same broth used to dress the dish. Another variant of this recipe is the couscous with meat.

How to arrive in Trapani:

By Plain

Travelling by plain, you can reach the Palermo Airport called Falcone-Borsellino and placed in Punta Raisi that is 80 km far from Trapani. This airport is connected to the most important European cities.

Otherwise, you can reach the Trapani Birgi Airport placed between Trapani and Marsala. It is just 25 km far from Trapani.

By Car

Many ferries connect the Palermo Port to which one of Naples, Civitavecchia (a city near Rome) and to which one of Genoa. This is the best solution for those who want to arrive in Trapani by car.

From this port you can reach Trapani going through the A29 highway towards Mazara del Vallo, and once near Alcamo you should take the Trapani exit.

The Trapani Port is reachable by ferry leaving from the ports of Livorno, Cagliari and Tunis. Moreover this port is connected to the islands of Pantelleria and of Ustica and to the Egadi islands (Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo).

From the Falcone-Borsellino Airport in Palermo you can reach Trapani by car going through the A29 Palermo-Mazara del Vallo/Trapani highway and this trip will last more or less 50 minutes.

From the Trapani Birgi Airport you can reach Trapani by car in about 15-25 minutes.

From Catania or from the Fontanarossa Airport you can arrive in Trapani by car going through the A19 highway towards Palermo. Once arrived in this city you should go on through the A29 highway towards Trapani. This trip will last more or less three hours because Catania is 300 km far from Trapani. Both the A19 and the A29 highways are free.

By Train

There isn’t a direct connection between the Italian continental territory and the city of Trapani. For this reason those who want to arrive there on railway should catch a train towards Palermo. Once arrived here it is possible to catch a train belonging to the Palermo-Trapani line even if the easier and faster solution to arrive in Trapani is to catch one of the several Segesta company buses that are available beside the Palermo Central Railway Station.

Related Articles:

The Natural Reserve of the Trapani and Paceco Salt Pans

Favignana: the butterfly shaped island

The Sicilian Brioche

Sicilian Cassata

Sicilian Cheese Pie – “Scacciata”

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