Erice is a pretty hilltown on the western coast of Sicily, located 750 metres above sea level overlooking Trapani and the beaches of San Vito La Capo. It is the epitome of the Middle Ages, characterised by ancient walls, castles and stone streets.
It was orginally populaced by the Elymians during hte Phoenician rule, later accupied by the Carthaginian,the Roman, Greeks and even by the Arabs who called it Gebel Hamed and finally by the Normandy who christened it as Monte San Guiliano.
The ancient walls dated back to the times ofthe Elymians and the Phoenicians and the two castles, the Pepoli Castle ( now a hotel) had foundations dating from the Arab times while theVenus Castle came from the Normandy rule built on the ruins of the Temple of Venus from a much earlier period..
we arrived to the highest point of the town to witness a prize-giving ceremony of a bicycling competition..
the Venus and the Pepoli Castles...
the Pepoli Castle is now a hotel..
view of the island from the top..
the Trapani Salt Plains seen from the top..
gorgeous scenery of castles perched on hilltop..
a group picture for the album..
walking down to the streets of the town..
souvenier stalls along the way..
lovely door to frame a potrait..
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