Marsala - Trapani Sicily - Sicily holidays

A tour of Marsala is a must to discover the most beautiful places in Western Sicily. This is a circumscribed and characteristic city, renowned in Italy and overseas for the production of the local fortified wine, Marsala. Through the historic gates of Spanish origin, you reach the charming old town, tailor-made for a visit on foot, without haste and with an eye ready to catch unexpected views. Among the noteworthy attractions, there are the Cathedral of Marsala - imposing and overlooking Piazza della Repubblica - and the Lilibeo, a fascinating archaeological site with the remains of an ancient Punic town and the huge coeval ship, still in excellent condition, preserved in the Archaeological Museum of Baglio Anselmi.

Not far from Marsala and easily reachable by car, there is the suggestive Riserva Naturale dello Stagnone, famous for the splendid lagoon of saline. Once there, you will not believe your eyes: the landscapes seem modelled in the same material of dreams, streaked with white shades and bathed in light. You will be immersed in the oldest Sicilian salt pans, dotted with expanses of salt, windmills and majestic stone basins, and cloaked in a unique, almost sublime atmosphere.

From Marsala, continue your trip in Western Sicily with a visit to Trapani, the provincial capital and casket of Baroque art. The first thing you will notice will be the very particular shape of the city, closely rooted to the sea. As you stroll, you will observe, in fact, that the blue emerges from every corner: Trapani stretches along a strip of land lapped by the water, on both sides.

After an overall overview, immerse yourself in the heart of the historic centre and get fascinated by the precious buildings all around: Baroque-style monuments and churches dot the streets and squares. From the city centre, move along the Tramontana Walls and enjoy an incomparable view of the medieval village of Erice and the enchanted Egadi Islands, cradled by the sea. Finally, do not forget a stop at the Ligny Tower, the emblem of Trapani located on the furthest point of the west coast.