Hotel Ciuri di Badia - Extremely Sicily

Who arrives in Trapani from the sea, is received by an ancient Phoenician harbor, considered a strategic point of the Mediterranean Sea for his earth strip that protects the natural port. The historical origins of the city go back to the Sicani but several dominations alternate themselves on the Trapani beaches through the centuries. The testimony of the various cultural stratifications appears on the architectonic aspect of the city, as the Palazzo della Giudecca of Jewish origin.

The main monument of the city is the cathedral dedicated to Saint Thomas of Canterbury and founded in the Norman Age. On the back of the cathedral, the Museum of the tapestries is located, that's cultural expression of Flemish art handed us on from the far 500. Through the centuries the various dominations left important architectonic testimonies, but the main building, so far discovered, and the Thermal Baths of the III-IV century A.D. are due to the Romans. A Punic ship, a precious archaeological jewel, can be admired at the archaeological Museum of Baglio Anselmi. The pearl of Marsala and the Italian wines is the Marsala Wine that, discovered by English people more of two centuries ago, is one of the most important wine abroad today.

San Vito lo Capo rises on the North-West coast of Sicily, it is situated in the bay between the natural reserves of Zingaro and Cofano Mount. It is the city of cous cous, the peace dish, a symbol of integration between different people and cultures. San Vito lo Capo is an old maritime harbor that preserves the strong Arab stamp. In this place, light, scents and flavors give life to a landscape made by Mediterranean colors and beautiful depths: you can see tiny houses covered with bougainvilleas and a beach with white sand and a sky-blue sea that extends more of 1 Km, towards the Mediterranean Sea.

Castellammare del Golfo was born as port of the Elymo villages of Erice and Segesta. In the port there is the massive Arab fortress. In the centre of the city is situated the Mother Church, built in 1500's. Inside of it, you can find a statue of majolica of 1600's, representing the Holy Virgin. Today Castellammare is a point of tourist attraction that offers, from a naturalistic point of view, beautiful landscapes.

The first natural reserve instituted in Sicily that extends for about 7 Km. It is situated between Scopello and San Vito lo Capo, the two main entrances. You can have a walk around the reserve only by foot and seeing a various and rich fauna and flora, the presence of some fantastic caves as the Uzzo Cave and different beaches.

The famous Doric temple of Segesta is situated in a beautiful position, among the dark hills that forms a nice contrast with the green around. The old Segesta, founded probably by Elyms, as Erice, became soon one of the main Mediterranean cities of the Hellenistic influence. In the V century it is the biggest enemy of Selinunte.

Extended settling of 1700's origin, formed by different houses and villages. Among agricultural products we remember: grain, grapes, olives and melons. There are also ovine breeding. The name Buseto comes from a Latin word and it means boxwood plant, and Palizzolo, instead, is a local surname. Very picturesque is the celebration of the death and passion of Jesus Christ. Some young people stay still on some wagons for all the time of the procession, where they represent the Holy scenes. These wagons are all the time accompanied by musical bands

In the far-northwest coast of Sicily, a big expanse of sea with four small islands, just a little out of water, catches the passenger sight. The Stagnone lagoon is a part of sea that extends from Punta D'Alga to Birgi-San Teodoro . In the middle of this lagoon you find the small island of San Pantaleo, the Phoenicians Motya and near the other two islands: Santa Maria and Scuola. The most interesting places in Motya are: the tophet, a sacred area which is mentioned in the Holy Bible, and the Cappiddazzo, where are the remains of a shrine. In Motya, you find also the Whitaker Museum, it conserves material that comes from ancient and recent digs.