Founded by colonists from Mengara
Hyblaea during the second half the VII century B.C. the city first sided with Carthage and then with Syracuse; after two centuries of prosperity it was destroyed by Segesta with such violence that there are few documented cases of similar violence in the ancient world. Razed to the ground by Rome after the first Punic war, it suffered a progressive and inexorable delay. Rediscovered and excavated during the 19th century, it offers a scenery of great charm, especially when it isn’t crowded with tourist. Worth visiting, in particular, is the acropolis where temple G dedicated to Apollo, temple C to Afrodite, temple B and the buildings B and O are dedicated to Castore and Pollice and temple F are to be found the Sanctuary of Malophoros dedicated to Demetra is of great importance and was for centuries the object of pilgrimage.

   A group of island off the coast of Trapani, of great interest are their crystal waters and their natural landscape which have recently been declared a marine reserve.
The main islands are Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo. Favignana, the biggest of the archipelago, has its roots in myth; here Ulysses and Enea sailed, next came the Phoenicians decisive naval battles were fought in its waters between the Romans and Carthaginians, which finished in favor of Rome. Under the Spanish, Austrians and Bourbonists, it became the ideal place for the isolation of prisoners. Its subsoil supplied the building material with which entire Sicilian cities were built. Its tonnara is of great importance for the “Mattanza” (capture of tuna fish) . It is possible to visit the archaeological site of the Bagni Romani, the baroque quarter of St Anna in the twon of Favignana, the buildings of the tonnara and the splendid beaches, from Cala Azzurra to Lido Burrone, from Stornello to Punta Sottile. Marettimo, the most eastern of the Egadi islands, can be described as a mountain among the waves, a world where the in habitants haven't wanted hotels (although they willingly give hospitality to tourists in their own homes) and where the fishers have boats which recall the Viking boats. Spectacular views of the landscape and contact with nature are to be enjoyed during a stay on the island, as is a sail round the island to see and visit the count less enchanting grottoes. Levanzo, where there are no roads, is famous for the “Grotta del Genovese”, where between 5 to 10 thousand years ago anonymous hands drewgraffiti representing men and animals, thought by some to represent tuna fishing. At the time of the drawings Levanzo and Favignana were still joined to the rest of Sicily . The crystal clear water of Levanzo like that of the other two islands makes it sought after by tourists.

Segesta

Erice

   An important tourist and holiday centre on the top of an isolated mountain . Founded on the site of the ancient Erice, religious centre of the Elimi, famous for its temple to Venere Ericina. It was contested by the Syracusani and the Carthaginians up to it being conquered by the Romans. It was called Gebel Hamed during the Arab occupation, it recovered some of its importance in XII century, and than followed the political destiny of the island.
There is still a lot of medieval evidence and part of the ancient monumental walls; the remarkable Chiesa Matrice (sixteent century) dedicated to the assumption, the inside was reconstructed a century ago; the medieval Castle (XII-XIII centure) with the remains of the temple and the Municipal palace, seat of the library and the Cordici Museum, with archaeological finds from the Erice necropolis, among which a head of Afrodite of the fourth century B.C.
Its characteristic cobbled streets and narrow “Vanelle” (alleys) so narrow that only one person can pass at a time (useful as a defence during invasions). Apart from the typical cobbled streets are the “Cortiletti”(courtyards) almost all of them full of plants and flowers in an extraordinary choreography of colour and perfume, with the precise function of giving space, air and living space to the Ericine families, which following the example of the Arab families carried out various activities in their courtyards. Today Erice hosts the international centre of Scientific Culture Ettore Maiorana and internationally important cultural manifestations. The Good Friday processio and the procession of the “Personaggi” during the festival of Maria Santissima of Custonaci are both of interest.


Islands and Marine Nature Reserve of The STAGNONE

In there centuries it managed to become one of the most florid Phoenician colones of the
Mediterranean. Due to the fortunate geographical position on the commercial routes of the day and morphological circumstances ; the laguna of the Stagnone protected between Isola Grande and the sicilian coats supplied safe moorings. At the centre the island of St Pantaleo offered further security.
It was here that the firts Phoenician colonists landed; the city grew to such an extent that it became a nuisance to the Greeks, who led by Dionisio II of Syracuse, destroyed it in 397 B.C. of the remains of Mothia, the walls are visible, the tophet or sanctuary open to the sky with the sacred enclosure for burials, and the dry dock (cathon). In the museum founded by Whitaker are over 10,000 exhibits among which the greek statue of the Auriga (5th century B.C.).


Trapani

Provincial county town, commercialand industrial centre with an active port. Of ancient origins, it was Drepana to the Greeks because of its sythe shape, then it was a Sicano village which depended on Erice, for which it was the port. An important naval base and stronghold for the Carthaginian in 241 B.C. it was conquered by the Romans. From the middle ages to the present day it has followed the destiny of the rest of Sicily. Formed by an old part and a modern one, it still has a number of noteworthy monuments such as the Basilica dell’Annunziata (14th century with a precius 13th century statue of the Madonna and child), a portal by Gagini and valuable railings, the church of Santa Maria di Gesu’ (15th c) St Domenico, the Chiesa del Colleggio (17th c), the Cathedral (17th c), St Agostino (14th c), the Chiesa del Purgatorio where the 20 sacred groups of the Misteri of Trapani are housed, among the important buildings are the town hall and the Casa Ciambra.
Worth a visit is the Museo Nazionale Pepoli, which has collections of archeology, sculpture, paintings and minor arts and the Biblioteca Fardelliana. Also worth a visit is the fish market where the caracteristic sale of fresh fish takes place amidst the shots of the fishermen and the confusion of the crowds. A visit to the Nature Reserve of the Saline, where the salt pans form an area where the sea mixes with the land creating an environmental unicum of great cultural valency.
Among the important events is the procession of the 20 sacred groups of the Misteri on Good Friday, the Luglio Musicale Trapanese and the Festival of the Tuna Fish.