Holiday apartment in Trapani: salt pans and history

Trapani combines an extraordinary natural landscape with museums, towers and vibrant traditions. Particularly characteristic is the Saline di Trapani e Paceco Nature Reserve: it covers 986 hectares and lies within the municipalities of Trapani and Paceco. Guided tours are offered there year-round and require advance reservation.

Nature

The salt pans give the surrounding area a distinctive character and combine a protected landscape with the history of salt production. At the Museo del Sale, this connection can be seen in a 17th-century baglio with an attached windmill. The museum preserves historic tools used by salt-pan workers and black-and-white photographs. At the same time, it lies along the Via del Sale cultural and tourism route.

Culture and history

The Museo Regionale Conte Agostino Pepoli is located in the vicinity of Trapani. It is housed in the rooms of the former Carmelite monastery next to the Santuario dell’Annunziata and presents the development of visual culture in the Trapani area. Its collection includes works made of coral, majolica, gold and silver, as well as nativity art.

Among the notable buildings is the Torre di Ligny, built in 1671 to reinforce Trapani’s coastal defences. From there, views extend over the Mediterranean Sea, the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Aegadian Islands and the coast as far as the slopes of Monte Erice. The Museo Civico Torre di Ligny also houses an archaeological collection relating to the Trapani area.

The Torre della Colombaia was used as a prison until 1965. Its construction was attributed to Hamilcar Barca in 260 BC during the First Punic War. A much earlier-dated landmark is the Fontana di Saturno, built in 1342.

The Santuario dell’Annunziata also incorporates several historical building phases. It was built between 1315 and 1332, while the main building was completely rebuilt in 1760. The palaces Palazzo Riccio di Morana, Palazzo Milo and Palazzo della Giudecca are also located in the vicinity of Trapani.

Coast and surroundings

The vicinity of Trapani includes Spiaggia Trapani beach as well as Spiaggia San Giuliano beach. Spiaggia di Marausa beach and Playa Tritoni beach are also located in the area around Trapani. The different geographical references remain clear: some places are in the immediate vicinity, while others are farther from the city.

Tradition and flavour

The Processione dei Misteri has been held repeatedly for more than 400 years and takes place in Trapani every Good Friday. It comprises 18 groups of figures and two simulacra. On Good Friday, the Sacri Gruppi leave the Baroque Chiesa del Purgatorio at 2 p.m. and proceed for almost 24 hours without interruption through Trapani’s main streets.

Local food culture includes busiate, a typical local pasta from Trapani. Geographically, the city also extends beyond the mainland: Trapani is a gateway to the Aegadian Islands.

Other places

Other places: Castellammare Del Golfo, Castelvetrano, Erice, Fulgatore, Tonnarella, Marettimo, Macari Di San Vito Lo Capo, Marsala.

San Vito Lo Capo, Selinunte, Trapani, Karuscia, Pantelleria, Alcamo, Paceco, Salemi.

Pizzolungo, Mazara Del Vallo, Marinella, Levanzo, Guarrato, Custonaci, Castelluzzo, Calatafimi.

Buseto Superiore, Valderice, Buseto Palizzolo, Ballata, Xitta, Ciavolo, Parrinello, Kamma.

Salaparuta, Scauri, San Leonardo, Partanna, Gibellina, Rilievo, Granitola Torretta, Campobello Di Mazara.

Poggioreale, Porticalazzo, Tre Croci, Sasi, Baglio Todaro, Petrosino, Casa Santa, Dattilo.

Tre Fontane, Favignana, Biscione, Santa Ninfa, Locogrande, Marausa, San Ciro - Ulmi - Filci, Triscina.

To the overarching travel overview: Sicily.