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Me and the streets of Mount Erice.
Erice town square
Bell Tower next to the church
vaulted apseThe Enchanted Mountain
"ERICE"
Erice... The Enchanted Mountain!
Mount Erice in Sicily is situated just a 15 min cable car trip from Trapani but it's not just any other cable car trip to some mountain, it's Mount Erice and if you are ever so lucky to visit this enchanted Mountain one day you will then understand why I'd call Erice enchanted and why I'd call you lucky!
Erice is in the north of Sicily and is approximately 750 meters above sea level. If you are in Trapani you can take the bus or a taxi to the Funivia/Cable Car Station and go up to Erice. If the cable car is not working a slightly longer drive will take you to the gate of Mount Erice where upon arrival greats you to a wonderful mediaval world leaving the picturesque view of Trapani behind.
On entering Mount Erice paving your way up the cobbled streets you will find the tourist information office just on your left hand side situated exactly inside the tall cathedral tower where you can purchase postcards, books with maps or a 'friendly walk around Erice' which gives you access to the main points of interest.
Following a map or just walking around will take you all around the marvels of this mountain. One can spend a full day in Erice. Walking around is great and you will have from amazing scenery of Trapani and San Vito Lo Capo beaches to the tiny narrow cobbled streets, the fairy tale houses and their magnificent laid back gardens, the restaurants, the pastry shops, the piazzas, the medieval buildings, churches and castles, the souvenir shops, the wonderful hand painted ceramics to take home and the mouth watering sweets and delicacies not to mention their typical produce such as olive oil, their Zibibbo which is a local wine/liquior, herbs and pasta sauces.
Until this very day one can see the Venus castle and reads all about the mythology around this castle.
The weather is very unpredictable and changes very quickly. It could be hot and humid and changes to cold and very cold with huge layers of fog walking around its cobbled narrow streets, very enchanted!
Take Erice Home
When visiting Erice you cannot simply leave without taking some of Erice to take home with you. So many souvenir shops to buy from. My favourite are the local produce shops selling from wines and liquiors to olive oil , balsamic vinegar, sweets and pasta sauces and there are also a lot of shops selling typical hand painted ceramic ornaments. As with all souvenir shops one has to go round the place first and find for themselves the genuine products and the best prices. I certainly fell in love with some of the genuine shops where they sell real hand painted goods because the shop owner/artist is performing works of art in her shop during opening hours and others even ship world wide so if you would like to take the sicilian kitchen back home you can always order their typical foods and ingredients. Please check my tips for the best genuine shops on Mount Erice.
I simply loved this fairy tale mountain
If I had all the time in the world and the world wasn't so big and I could visit and revisit the same places all over and over again I would surely revisit Erice.
Best way to arrive is by Ryan Air via Trapani Birgi Airport and it can be combined with other places such as Trapani itself, Palermo, Segesta, the Favigniana Islands, San Vito lo Capo, all we need is time and a good plan.
Hope you enjoy reading my Erice page and find my tips helpful. Do not hesitate to ask questions and I will find the time to get back to you with any other additional information I have gained during my visit.
