How does it feel to walk amongst the clouds? In Erice, you can find out!
While visiting Trapani, the western province of Sicily, I took the cable car to the mountaintop town of Erice. Journeying up the 750 meters, I remember getting chills … and not because the temperature was dropping! I could just feel that I was heading somewhere special.
Stepping off the cable car, clouds playfully swirled around me, giving everything a magical and surreal hue. As I began to walk around, I was surprised that I could not move easily. My sandals kept slipping! The cobblestones were worn and slick. Clearly, this was a place where many had passed.
Initially inhabited by an ancient population known as Elymians, Erice then became home to various groups throughout history: Arabs, Normans, Romans, Byzantines, and more. The incredible vantage point (all the way to Tunisia on a clear day) made it popular amongst conquering peoples.
Every culture who passed through Erice left traces.
Walls surround the medieval town. Dozens of interesting churches are scattered about. There are towers and castles, the most famous being the Castello di Venere or the Castle of Venus. The Castle is constructed on the site of an ancient temple dedicated to Venus Ericina, the goddess of fertility. As the protector of navigators of the sea, Venus Ericina watched over ships from the perfect vantage point of Mount Erice.
In addition to being a great place for exploration, Erice is also a perfect place to reflect and think. I stood at the Castello di Venere for a good hour to take in the stunning view, the sensation of being amongst the clouds, and all the history in my midst.
Even though Erice feels like another world, a rumbling tummy will bring you back to reality - the reality of being in Sicily, the best place to be when you’re hungry!
Erice is most famous for its sweet treats. The town is home to one of the island’s most famous pastry shops – La Pasticceria di Maria Grammatico. There you can find marzipan or ricotta based sweets. Also worth noting are the Genovesi di Erice, fluffy short-bread treats filled with pastry cream.
On the ride down from Erice, I had a wonderful sensation. No more chills, just pure satisfaction! Full of sugar and still in awe of all I had seen, I felt so fortunate to have visited such a peaceful and fascinating place.
Italian Vocabulary related to Erice
All Around Italia helps you learn about Italy and also learn Italian! Here are some words related to Erice. Have you heard these before?
la funivia – cable car; another way to say this is il funicolare
Per arrivare ad Erice, si prende la funivia da Trapani. / To get to Erice, you take the cable car from Trapani.
scivolare – to slip and slide
Ad Erice, si scivola sulle strade acciottolate. / In Erice, you can slip on the cobblestone streets.
lo strapiombo – cliff
Il Castello di Venere si trova su uno strapiombo nel paesino di Erice. / Venus’ Castle is located on a cliff in the town of Erice.
To listen to a fun song about Erice by Jaka – a reggae singer from Erice – check out “A Erice” on Youtube or Spotify.
The song is in local dialect. To help you better understand the chorus, you can find the translation into standard Italian below.
For more songs about Sicily, check out our Sicilia Spotify playlist.
Enjoy!
A Erice – to Erice
Acchianamo a Erice – let’s go to Erice
A Erice – to Erice
Acchianamo a Erice – let’s go to Erice
A Erice – to Erice
Acchianamo a Erice – let’s go to Erice
A Erice unni l’aria è cchiu pura – in Erice, the air is purer
A Erice nmezzo a natura – Erice in the middle of nature
