Page 106 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

104  SICIL Y AREA B Y AREA

o Erice
Spanish Habsburgs, surmounted
The splendid town of Erice, perched on top of Monte San by a 14th-century double lancet
Giuliano, has very ancient origins, as is shown by the cult of window. Inside are a sacred well
the goddess of fertility, Venus Erycina. Laid out on a triangular and the ruins of the Temple of
plan, the town has preserved its medieval character, with fine Venus Erycina, a Phoenician
house and a Roman bath. The
city walls, beautifully paved streets, stone houses with castle is the starting point of a
decorated doorways, small squares and open spaces with system of fortifications
numerous churches – including the medieval Chiesa Madre – including the Torri del Balio,
many of which have recently become venues for scientific formerly the head quarters of
and cultural activities. the Norman governor. Further
down, on a ledge over the
Pineta dei Runzi pine forest, is
T Cyclopean walls + Castello di Venere the Torretta Pepoli (see p89),
These extend for 700 m (2,296 ft) on Via Conte Pepoli. Tel 3666-712 832. built as a hunting lodge in
the northern side of the town, from Open Apr–Oct: 10am–6pm daily (to 1872–80 and one of the
Porta Spada to Porta Trapani. 8pm summer); Nov–Mar: 10am–4pm symbols of Erice. In front of the
The lower part of the wall, Sat & hols, weekdays by appt. & castle are the 19th-century
with its megalithic blocks of ∑ fondazioneericearte.org/ public gardens, Giardini del
stone, dates back to the castellodivenere.php Balio, which link this zone with
Phoenician period; the This Norman castle was the eastern side of Erice.
letters beth, ain, phe of the built on an isolated
Phoenician alphabet are rock over the ruins
carved in it. The upper part of the Temple of
and the gates were built Venus Erycina.
by the Normans. The Porta Entrance is gained
Spada gate owes its name via a tower, the only
to the massacre of the local remaining original
Angevin rulers during the part of the castle,
Sicilian Vespers (spada with Ghibelline
means sword) (see pp36–7). castellation. It was
Nearby are Sant’Antonio used as a prison and
Abate and Sant’Orsola. watchtower. Above
The latter houses the the entrance, with
18th-century “Mysteries”, its pointed arch, is
sculptures borne in procession a plaque with the The Norman castle, built on the site dedicated to Venus
on Good Friday. coat of arms of the Erycina in ancient times

Erice Town Centre Porta
Spada
1 Chiesa Matrice
2 Cyclopean walls VIA ADDOLORATA
3 Polo Museale A. Cordici
4 Corso Vittorio Emanuele V I A L E P O R T A S P A D A
5 Via Generale Salerno Porta VIA DESERTA
6 San Pietro Carmine Carmine
7 San Giovanni Battista Cyclopean
Walls
8 Castello di Venere Polo Museale San
V I A L E D E L L E P I N E T E A. Cordici Domenico San
VIA RABATA
PIAZZA S. Cataldo
CORSO VITTORIO EMANUELE
DOMENICO
VIA CHIARAMONTE
VIALE NUNZIO NASI
City Walls VIA VITO CARVINI VIA G. San VIA F. COSENZA San Giovanni
Pietro
VIA
Battista
Chiesa GEN. SALERNO
Matrice San VIA PALMA F. G U A R NOTTI PIAZZA
SAN
Martino
VIA GENERALE SALERNO PIAZZA S. GIOVANNI
Bus GIULIANO
Station Porta VIA P. GERVASI
Trapani VIA SAN FRANCESCO
VIA PILAZZA
PIAZZA VIALE CONTE PEPOLI Giardini
GRAMMATICO
del Balio
Castello
0 metres 200 di Vénere
0 yards 200
For keys to map symbols see back flap
104-105_EW_Sicily.indd 104 11/3/16 2:07 PM