To visit.......
Zingaro Nature Reserve
The Zingaro has an area of 1650 hectares, a coastal strip of about 7 km, formed by a rocky coast of limestone from the Mesozoic, interspersed with numerous coves and characterized by sheer cliffs that have a maximum height of 913 meters. (Monte Speziale) quickly lead to the sea.
The coastal profile is an alternation of high rock walls that sink into the blue and inlets gently sloping down towards the sea.
The pebbly coves seen from the sea have the appearance of lighter niches hollowed out on the side of the Dolomite walls which, coming from the south side of Scopello and going north, are called Cala della Capreria, Cala del Varo (accessible by sea), Cala della Disa or Zingaro, Cala Beretta, Cala Marinella, Cala Torre dell'Uzzo whose limestone substrate enhances the transparency of water just like a tropical environment. And finally Tonnarella dell'Uzzo.
The underwater landscape is a continuous succession of colors and shapes.
Scopello
The villaggio of Scopello is located on the western coast of Sicily and is a fraction of the municipality of Castellammare del Golfo, in the province of Trapani.
It counts just over a hundred inhabitants, but in summer the delightful village is populated by tourists and its streets, in silent winter, are filled with life.
Scopello, from the Greek Scopelos, (literally rocks), owes its name to the presence of the two beautiful stacks that emerge proud from the crystal clear waters of the bay. The history of this village is very ancient. The first finds that attest to the presence of man in these lands were found in the cave of the Uzzo, inside the Riserva dello Zingaro.
Not to be missed during your stay in Scopello is certainly the Faraglioni Beach.
Here the sea is a beauty that will leave you speechless, blue, clear and pristine. The stacks rise proud and are covered by dense vegetation, characterizing all the surrounding landscape. A mask swim is a must. The seabed rich in fish and the crystal clear water will give you magical moments.
Castellammare del Golfo
It rises on the slopes of the mountain complex of Monte Inici and gives its name to the homonymous gulf overlooking the castle, bordered to the east by Capo Rama and to the west by Capo San Vito. Near the port of Castellammare del Golfo rises the so-called Castello a Mare, called so because up until the eighties it was lapped by the sea. The stretch of sea in front of the tower was called "queen's basin" to indicate a natural pool bordered by rocks, which legend has it was in use by the queen of the castle
The Castellammarese coast includes both sandy stretches (including the fine sandy beach of the "Plaja"), and rocky stretches (consisting of the coves north-west of the town).
"La Plaja" beach is the largest beach in Castellammare del Golfo.
Within the city is Cala Petrolo (just after Punta Nord Est, coming from La Playa beach) and the small beach of the marina, near the port.
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Temple and Greek Theater of Segesta
Segesta, an ancient city, no longer inhabited, founded by the Elymians, rises on Mount Barbaro, in the municipality of Calatafimi Segesta, about 15 kilometers from Alcamo and Castellammare del Golfo.
Of particular beauty in the archaeological park are the temple, in Doric style, and the theater, partly dug into the rock of the hill. The temple, also called the "Great Temple", was built during the last thirty years of the 5th century BC, on the top of a hill west of the city, outside its walls. It is a large hexastyle peripteral temple (ie with six columns on the shorter side, not grooved). On the long side it instead presents fourteen columns (a total of 36 therefore, 10 meters high). The current state of preservation presents the entire colonnade of the peristasis.
The theater was built on the highest peak of Mount Barbaro, on a site, behind the agora, which was already the site of a place of worship many centuries before. Take advantage of the splendid panorama of the sea and the hills as far as the eye can see. It was built at the end of the 3rd century BC with blocks of local limestone. It deviates from the typical structure of Greek theaters because the cavea with a diameter of 63 meters, does not rest directly on the rock but has been purposely built and is supported by retaining walls. It consists of two entrances, slightly offset with respect to the main axis of the building and is able to hold around 4000 people. In summer it is home to a full program of shows.
Palermo
The city has a long history and has played an important role in the affairs of the Mediterranean and Europe. Founded by the Phoenicians between the 7th and 6th centuries BC The long history of the city and the succession of numerous civilizations and peoples have given it a remarkable artistic and architectural heritage. The serial site Arab-Norman Palermo and the cathedrals of Cefalù and Monreale, of which more monumental assets are located in the city, in 2015 was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Numerous buildings, including churches and palaces, are recognized as Italian national monuments. Palermo is the capital of Sicily. The Cathedral of Palermo, from the 12th century, houses royal tombs, while the imposing neoclassical Teatro Massimo is famous for its opera performances. Also in the center are the Norman Palace, a royal palace dating back to the 9th century, and the Palatine Chapel, with Byzantine mosaics. The crowded markets include the central street market Ballarò and Vucciria, near the port.
Trapani, Erice and the Egadi Islands
Erice is of an unforgettable beauty, an ancient Phoenician and Greek city, perched at a height of 751 m on the mountain of the same name, crowned by a triangular plateau with a terrace overlooking the sea.
Defended by ramparts and walls, the city is a labyrinth of cobbled streets and passages so narrow as to allow the passage of a single man. The houses, closed to each other, have pretty and well-kept internal courtyards, defended and protected from the sight of passers-by so that family life takes place in complete intimacy.
In this corner of the Mediterranean, at the edge of Italy, the wind commands. They are mistral, scirocco and libeccio to dictate the program of the days and caress, shape, sometimes they seem to mistreat an enchanting sea, with reflections and extraordinary colors, absolute protagonist of an archipelago where nature and silence dominate.
At an hour's hydrofoil from Trapani, the Egadi archipelago composed of the islands of Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo, is told through light, its colors and the many scents and culture of an ancient land of tuna fishermen.