Splendid churches, sumptuous palazzi, crowded streets and a maze of tiny roads and ancient alleyways.
Palermo is a vibrant concoction of traditions and beliefs, a quite unique concentration of majestic churches and elegant palazzi, interspersed with the more humble dwellings which crowd the colorful streets and narrow alleyways animating the heart of the city. The market of Vaccuria is the perfect expression of the city of Palermo and its inhabitants. The colours and scents of the market inspired the painter Renato Guttuso for the making of one of his most celebrated works. Traces of Palermo's far distant Norman era can be seen in the Palazzo dei Normanni with its Palatine chapel, in the former Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti, and in the city's imposing Cathedral.
The town of Monreale, just outside Palermo, offers some fine examples of Arabian-Norman architecture. The Cathedral is particularly worthy of visit. Built in 1174, it houses mosaics depicting episodes from both the Old and New Testaments. The cloister, featuring some two hundred columns, is a major tourist attractions.
Alcamo, with its 14th century Castle of the Counts of Modica and the 15th century Torre de Bellis, is situated on the road leading towards Trapani. The town is known for the excellent wines produced here and for being the birthplace of Ciullo d'Alcamo, considered to be the first Sicilian poet to have composed verses in the Italian language.
Having left Alcamo, after just a few kilometers, we come to Catalafimi. Here at the beginning of May each year one of the most keenly-felt popular festivals in the whole of Sicily is held: the Festival of the Holy Crucifix. During the event, great sculptures made from bread are marched through the town as a sign of respect for the work of the farm labourers. Just outside Calafimi lies the Temple of Segesta, a perfectly conserved Doric temple resting at the feet of Mount Barbaro. Just a little higher up the mountain there is the Greek theatre, the stone tiers of which were carved directly out of the rock face.
Shortly before we arrive in Trapani, from the heights of Mount San Giuliano, the perimeter wall of the town of Erice appears. This fascinating little town, with its narrow streets lined with attractive stone houses and courtyards, is pervaded by an atmosphere of centuries past. This is where the ancient sanctuary of Aphrodite once stood. From Erice magnificent views as far as the Egadi islands can be admired.
The city of Trapani, once known as Drepanum, lies on a promontory gradually sloping down to the sea. Whilst in Trapani, visitors should not fail to see the Sanctuary of the Annunziata and take a tour of the city's museum. The Pepoli Museum houses a great number of important artworks including a painting by Titian depicting St Francis and a superb collection of jewellery made from coral, the stone which for centuries has been transformed by local craftsmen in to exquisite charms, bracelets and necklaces.
Travelling onwards, along the western coast of Sicily, we come to the Gulf of Stagnone, an area known for its salt marshes and from where boats depart for the islet of San Pantaleo. On this tiny island, traces of the Phoenician city of Mozia have been found, including a large marble statue of a young man, dating back to the 5th century B.C.
Further South lies Mazara del Vallo. This was the very last city to fall under the Norman dominion, in 827, and before such time it had been an Arab settlement. The influences of the various civilisations to have inhabited the city over the years have produced an intriguing fusion of culture and customs. In the historic center, a veritable maze of narrow winding roads, blind alleys, courtyards, arches, and porticoes, there is an authentic Kasbah where to savour delicious cuscus and fish dishes: the highly acclaimed specialities of Mazara del Vallo.
Our journey continues along the coast towards the archaeological area of Selinunte. Here we find splendid Doric temples and the ruins of an ancient acropolis. Nearby, lies Eraclea Minoa with its crystal clear sea and long beaches of fine white sand. In no time at all, we reach Agrigento's legendary Valley of the Temples, a spectacular archaeological park containing a whole group of sacred monuments, testifying to Sicily's glorious past.
After the world famous Valley of the Temples, we travel to one of Sicily's lesser known treasures: Caltabellotta. This tiny town, perched high up on the mountain from where it enjoys a stunning view extending from Mazara del Vallo as far as Mount Etna, is wrapped in a quite unique, almost indescribable atmosphere.
