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Erice and Monte San Giuliano: the fortified city
There are places in Sicily where myth weaves together with history and where archeology testifies the life of ancient populations and civilizations. On the summit of Monte San Giuliano, a marvellous panoramic view of Trapani, lays the town of Erice.
It was populated by the Elimi who erected the temple to worship the goddess of fertility and love. Successive rulers entitled the temple to their gods, so the Phoenicians worshiped Tanit-Astarte, the Greeks Aphrodite , the Romans the Venus Ericina.
On the ruins still stands the Castle of Venus, fortified during the Norman rule, the city is surrounded by cyclopean walls of Elimo (seventh century B.C.) whose corners stand the Norman castle, the cathedral (1314) and the Spanish District.
The historical center has a typical medieval urban plant with squares, narrow and tortuous streets which overlook beautiful flowered courtyards, animated by shops of local crafts: finely decorated pottery, colorful hand-woven carpets, traditional sweets made of almonds and candied fruit.