the aegadianislands

The wildlife of the AegadianIslands makes this region a highly interesting destination to visit. Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo may appear to have very similar landscapes, but they all have their own distinctive traits. Favignana, the largest of the three islands, is also home to a number of important artistic monuments, such as Baroque churches and the Florio Palace.

MOZIA

On the furthest north-western point of Sicily, the visitor will find themselves before a vast stretch of sea where four small islands peek out over the surface of the water. The “Stagnone” is a stretch of sea that extends from Punta d'Alga all the way to Contrada Birgi-San Teodoro. In the centre of the lagoon, there is the small island of San Pantaleo, the Phoenician isle of Mozia and to the side the islands of Santa Maria and Scuola. The most interesting attractions in Mozia are the "Tophet", a sacred place mentioned in the Bible, and the "Cappiddazzo", where you will find the WhitakerMuseum, which is home to artefacts from both recent and ancient times, and the remains of the A. Mozia Sanctuary.

ERICE

Erice is an ancient medieval hamlet whose origins are steeped in mystery. Legend tells that the town was built by the son of Venus and Bute, the king of the Elymians. At a first glance, the town appears to be a rather solitary place sheltered behind its mighty town wall, which is a testimony to the Elymian-Phoenician and Punic eras. You must visit the MadreChurch, which was established during the first half of the 14th century on the order of Federico d'Aragona and dedicated to the “Vergine Assunta” (Our Lady of the Assumption). Its mysterious air of bygone days vibrates in the streets paved with shiny square slabs and the sweet smells of baking that intoxicate passers-by as they weave their way through these ancient streets.

THE "ZINGARO" NATURE RESERVE

This is the first nature reserve ever established in Sicily. The reserve covers an area of approximately seven kilometres and is situated between Scopello and the town of San Vito Lo Capo, which represent the two main entrance points to the protected area. The Reserve can be visited on foot and offers rich and varied flora and fauna as well as the extraordinary Uzzo Grotto and a myriad of bays and beaches.

SELINUNTE

the archaeological site of Selinunte is situated on a hill that leads down to the sea and covers an area of approximately 10 kilometres. For three centuries, this area was the scene of fierce warfare between the Greek and Fenician-Punic civilisations that dominated the population of this Mediterranean land. The visit to the ruins begins at the oriental temples that are indicated on the map by letters of the alphabet because it is still unknown to whom these buildings were originally dedicated. The visit continues on to the Acropolis where you will find six temples and various sacred constructions.

GIBELLINA

Gibellina was destroyed by an earthquake in 1968, which gravely affected the entire Belice valley. The remains of the town are still visible today (follow the indications for “Ruderi di Gibellina”, 18 km east of Gibellina Nuova), the most of which have been covered by a “veil” of cracked cement where the old streets of the urban area lay (it is Crete, the work of Burri). The New Gibellina was constructed based on a rather unusual idea: to make the town a kind of permanent living museum with sculptures scattered throughout the streets and in the buildings that have become works of art in their own right. To name but a few: the imposing star at the entrance of the town created by Pietro Consagra, the Piazza del Municipio square with the Civica-Carrilion Tower and the Chiesa Madre Church (by Quaroni), which is characteristic for its enormous white sphere that can be seen from far away.

MAZARA DEL VALLO

This ancient Fenician site situated at the mouth of the River Mazaro was an important ancient port chosen for its protected position and for its vicinity to Africa. Mazara, a Greek commercial centre, grew to its maximum splendour under the Arab reign and subsequently under the Normans. This meeting of different cultures, including the nearby African populations that still constitute the majority of the inhabitants today, is particularly evident in this small town. Mazara is still considered to be one of the chief deep-sea fishing centres and contributes to 20% of the national produce.

SEGESTA

Situated in a splendid position, nestled between the sweet red-brown and ochre coloured hills that form a beautiful contrast with the infinite shades of green of the countryside, the ArchaeologicalPark is dominated by an elegant Greek temple. Just like Erice, the antique Segesta (probably established by the Elymians) soon became one of the principal towns of Ellenistic influence in the entire Mediterranean basin and, in the 5th century, it was the greatest rival of Selinunte.