Page 94 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

overlooks the rugged tur- you reach Marsala on Sicily’s Greek ruins of Selinunte
rets and wooded hillsides west coast. (%0924 4 62 77; adult/reduced
down to the saltpans €6/3; h9am-6pm Apr-Oct,
of Trapani and the sea. to 5pm Nov-Mar) are among
Adjacent to the gardens 5 Marsala the most impressive in
is the Norman Castello Best known for its Sicily, dating to around
di Venere (%366 6712832; eponymous sweet dessert the 7th century BC. There
www.fondazioneericearte. wines, Marsala is an are few historical records
org/castellodivenere.php; Via elegant town of stately of the city, which was
Castello di Venere; adult/re- baroque buildings within once one of the world’s
duced €4/2; h10am-1hr before a perfect square of city most powerful, and even
sunset daily Apr-Oct, 10am-4pm walls. Founded by Phoeni- the names of the various
Sat, Sun & holidays Nov-Mar), cians escaping Roman temples have been forgot-
built in the 12th and 13th attacks, the city still has ten and are now identified
centuries over the ancient remnants of the 7m-thick by letters. The most
Temple of Venus. ramparts they built, en- impressive, Temple E, has
suring that it was the last been partially rebuilt, its
4p98
Punic settlement to fall to columns pieced together
The Drive » For the 12km to the Romans. from their fragments with
Trapani, it’s back down the Marsala’s finest part of its tympanum.
switchbacks of the SP3. treasure is the partially Many of the carvings,
reconstructed remains of which are on a par with
a Carthaginian liburna the Parthenon marbles,
ITALY 6 WONDERS OF ANCIENT SICILY
4 Trapani (warship) – the only particularly those from
Once a key link in a remaining physical evi- Temple C, are now in
powerful trading network dence of the Phoenicians’ Palermo’s archaeological
that stretched from seafaring superiority in museum.
Carthage to Venice, the 3rd century BC. You The Drive » Head back up to
Trapani occupies a sickle- can visit it at the Museo the SS115 and past a series of
shaped spit of land that Archeologico Baglio hills and plains for the 37km trip
hugs its ancient harbour. Anselmi (%0923 95 25 35; to Sciacca.
Although Trapani’s indus- Lungomare Boeo 30; adult/
trial outskirts are rather reduced €4/2; h9am-7.30pm
bleak, its historic centre Tue-Sat, to 1.30pm Sun & Mon). 7 Sciacca
is filled with atmospheric Seaside Sciacca was
pedestrian streets and 5 p98 founded in the 5th
some lovely churches and The Drive » For this 52km century BC as a thermal
baroque buildings. The leg, once again head down the resort for nearby Seli-
narrow network of streets SS115, passing through farmland nunte. Its healing waters
remains a Moorish laby- and scattered towns until you still attract visitors, who
rinth, although it takes reach the A29. Continue on the come to wallow in the
autostrada to Castelvetrano,
much of its character then follow the SS115 and sulphurous vapours and
from the fabulous 18th- SS115dir for the last leg through mineral-rich mud. Spas
century baroque of the orchards and fields to seaside and thermal cures apart,
Spanish period. Selinunte. it’s a laid-back town with
5 p98 an attractive medieval
core and some excellent
The Drive » For the 33km trip 6 Selinunte seafood restaurants.
from Trapani to Marsala, head Built on a promontory
south on the SS115. Small towns overlooking the sea, the The Drive » Continue
alternate with farmland until eastwards on the SS115 as it

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