Erice

Erice

Erice, as if suspended in the clouds, still surrounded by 700 meters of Cyclopean walls, offers especially in winter, surrounded by fog, an unreal and out of time atmosphere. The village has a triangular shape, and the name “Erice” has mythological origins (Eryx is the name of the King of the Elimi who in the place of the ancient Elymian built a temple dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite, his mother, who thus becomes the protector of the mountain and every night in the sacred area was lit a great fire that served as a lighthouse for sailors). The village has preserved its medieval structure, with paved roads and stone houses, small squares on which there are numerous churches including the medieval Mother Church.

The legend says that the exiles of the city of Troy founded the city – those exiles that then originated in the Elimi population, and also founded Segesta. The city then passes into the hands of the Romans, who worshiped here Venus Ericina. Erice also undergoes the domination of the Normans, Swabians and Spanish, knowing periods of architectural and cultural development. Erice is history, folklore but also taste: It is impossible not to mention the famous and unmissable Genovesi, pastry stuffed with custard: a real treat for the palate.

You can reach the city by two roads that, climbing the mountain, offer extraordinary panoramic views of the landscape. The urban form is similar to that of an equilateral triangle: on any two vertices are located the Castle of Venus and the Mother Church and in a central position there is the Church of St. Peter and monastery. Especially impressive is the garden of the Balio, which surrounds the “Castle of Venus”.

If the air is particularly clear, the panorama extends up to the Egadi Islands and Pantelleria.