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Trapani, Sicily

Trapani

Trapani: The City of Salt, Sail, and Ancient Legends

Its name is of Greek origin meaning “scythe” and the long, narrow shape of the town surrounded by the sea has mount Erice at its handle, the elected site of exiled Trojans worshipping the goddess Aphrodite.
Limitless stretches of salt pans and constant winds blowing throughout the area let Trapani have gained the name of “City of Salt and Sail”. Indeed, many visitors as well as water sports fans from all over the world reach the destination to visit the “pans” and practise sport like kite surf.

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Trapani seafront

History

Its ancient history is closely tied to Africa: the city was founded by Phoenicians, as was Carthage, and it was at the centre of the great naval battles between Carthage and Rome.

And still today in the streets of the port there is an African air, in the colours, smells of couscous and the many Tunisian fishing crew to be found there.

In the middle ages, the town took on renewed life under the Arabs who created new districts and commerce, new agricultural and fishing techniques that brought the port back to its glory days of old. In 1154, the Arab geographer Edrisi gave a perfect description of Trapani “a city of ancient origins, situated on the sea and surrounded on each side. […] here fish is in abundance and more than needed; they fish large tuna with great nets and a high-quality coral: and a salt-pan is adjacent to the city’s port”.

The salt pans at the sunset

Its position – located at the end of northwestern Sicily, between the Tyrrhenean and African Sea and facing the Egadi Isles – has such an evocative fascination to have led the English writer Samuel Butler, who travelled widely in Sicily, that here were the places described in the “Odyssey” and that the poem was the work of a Sicilian woman. Butler’s book “The authoress of the Odyssey”, published in 1897, inspired another English author, Robert Graves, who wrote in 1955 a novel on the same theme, “Homer’s Daughter”.

Still today, Trapani’s destiny is tied to its port and the sea: a pivotal moment was its selection for America’s cup regattas in 2005. Restoration and renovation work was commissioned for the event that has brought out the antique beauty that permits very pleasurable sojourns. Flanked by the remains of the ancient walls,the sea-front stretches for kilometres.

Trapani

Top things to do

Because of its strategic position, the city has always been defended by watch-towers and fortresses that in no small way contribute to the charme of the place.

The Castello della Colombaia is one of Trapani’s symbols: built during the Punic Wars on a rock 600m. in front of the harbour entrance, it is attributed to the Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca. In 1360, Queen Constance of Castile on her way to marry Frederick III of Aragon stayed here. In the 15th c. it was again a fortress and later a prison. Strolling along this ancient water-front it rises like an apparition surrounded by the sea.

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