Itinerary from Marsala to San Vito Lo Capo

What to see in Sicily? Here we propose a fascinating itinerary from Marsala to San Vito lo Capo that will guide you to discover a unique area of its kind, which has so much to tell and offer. The itinerary is just over 75 km long but can also be followed in stages, based on the destinations you wish to visit.

Starting from Marsala, the first stop on the itinerary is Trapani. Also known as the “city of the two seas” (because it stands on a strip of land bathed on one side by the Tyrrhenian Sea and on the other by the Mediterranean Sea), it offers the most varied opportunities to better understand the landscape, history and traditions of western Sicily. Although the network of streets in the historic center still presents itself as a Moorish labyrinth, Trapani owes its current appearance to the influence of the Spanish Baroque, which established itself in the 17th and 18th centuries. The most important monument in the city is the Sanctuary of Maria Santissima Annunziata, with a Gothic facade and eighteenth-century interior. A large number of works of art are kept there. Other things to see in Trapani include: the Agostino Pepoli Museum, set up in the former Convent of the Carmelite Fathers, with collections of sculpture, painting and archaeology; the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, which houses a valuable canvas representing the Crucifixion from the Flemish area; the ancient Tower of Ligny, which houses a small civic museum; and the fascinating Saline di Trapani and Paceco Nature Reserve.

The next stop is the medieval village of Erice, which stands on the top of the mountain of the same name (about 750 meters above sea level). From up there you can admire exceptionally wide panoramas: Trapani below, the salt pans and, on clear days, the Egadi islands, the agricultural landscapes of the hinterland and the north-western coast between Tonnara di Bonagia and the promontory of Capo San Vito. Inserted among “The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy”, Erice is a maze of paved streets that run between churches, squares and ancient courtyards. The most representative building is the Mother Church, better known as the Cathedral. Built in the first half of the 14th century and dedicated to the Assumption, it houses works of considerable value, among which a marble Madonna from the 15th century and a marble altarpiece from the early 16th century stand out. At the opposite corner of the village, the Castle of Venus incorporates parts of the ancient temple of Venus Ericina into its medieval fortress structure. Among other places of interest we mention: the Antonino Cordici Museum, which contains testimonies attesting to the history of Erice and its people; the Church of San Martino, perhaps of Norman origin and rebuilt at the end of the seventeenth century; and the Cyclopean Elymian-Phoenician walls dating back to the 8th-7th century BC.

Through Custonaci, known for its marble processing, and Castelluzzo, you reach San Vito Lo Capo, one of the most loved places in western Sicily. And not only for its splendid beach of fine white sand, one of the most beautiful in Italy, bathed by clear turquoise waters and dominated by Monte Monaco, a popular excursion destination. In the town the following are relevant: the Fortezza Sanctuary, embellished with precious marbles and works of art; and the small Chapel of Santa Crescenzia, which hides complex symbolism and aesthetic qualities. A few kilometers from the center of San Vito Lo Capo there is one of the symbolic places of the entire territory, the Tonnara del Secco, a large factory once used for tuna processing, now abandoned. Further on, from Calampiso, a beautiful walk along the western coast of the gulf of Castellammare leads to the Orienteta Zingaro Nature Reserve, a true paradise for lovers of nature and outdoor activities, where the coves and small beaches appear intact in their remarkable charm.