San Vito Lo Capo Ing by La Dea Editori

A path among the Zingaro and the Monte Cofano reserves, the 5 towers, the 6 terrestrial caves, the 25 little inlets and beaches, the 9 sea caves, the 8 submerged walls, the Capua and the Kent wrecks, the 4 sea banks, the rich gastronomy, the flourishing crafts and the famous sea resorts of the territory of Trapani.

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San Vito, beach and bathing beaches seen from the top

© La Dea Editori Via Tasso, 2 • 87052 Camigliatello Silano (CS) Italy phone and fax +39 0984 578125 • phone +39 0984 570878 mobile phone +39 335 6689611 e-mail: ladea1@alice.it • ladea@tiscali.it • www.ladeaeditori.it Editorial Director: Egidio Bevilacqua Artistic Director: Elvira Pacenza Pagination and graphics: Dea Graphic Searches: Dea e Ilaria Bevilacqua, Giovanna Maria Russo Transaltion: Loretta De Paola First Edition: Camigliatello Silano (CS) Italy, March 2013 ISBN 978-88-88557-53-3 Published in March 2013 by the typography De Rose Montalto Uffugo (CS) on behalf of La Dea Editori by Egidio Bevilacqua © All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated and reproduced in any form or by any means,including microfilm or photostatic copies We thank for the precious ontribution: Bannetta Mauro, Billera Ignazio, Cappuccio Massimo, Caprio Giuseppe, Carravetta Luigi, Corsini Daniele, De Caro Roberto, De Rosa Carmine, Fermo Roberto, Gabriele Giuseppe, Giacalone Nino, Giliberti Giovanni, Gioffrè Gianfranco, Guttuso Antonio, Hhdidden, La Colla Giuseppe, Lucifora Emilio, Madeo Giovanni, Maniscalco Kirlian, Marino Fabio, Pellegrino Filippa, Pucci Stefano, Ruggirello Diego, Stedalopi, Tuvoks, Valente Mimmo, Violante Giuseppe. Cover: Stefano Pucci Panoramic view of San Vito Lo Capo Back cover: Daniele Corsini Insulidda Wall, Snake Sea Star

Cave of the little Madonna

INDEX San Vito Lo Capo 7; The Territory 8; The History 9; The Sanctuary 11; The Chapel of St. Crescenzia 14; The Museum 15; The Lighthouse 16; The Port 17; Macari 18; Castelluzzo 18; The Bay of St. Margherita 19; The Almadraba del Secco 20; Fishponds 22; The Butchery 23 Towers & Caves 24; Towers & Caves Map 24-25; The Towers 27; Torrazzo 28; Isulidda Tower 29; Impiso Tower 30; Usciere Tower 31; Cofano Tower 32 The Terrestrial Caves 33; Zubbia Cave 35; Cala Mancina Cave 36; Cavalli Cave 37; Isulidda Cave 38; Racchio Cave 39; Uzzo Cave 41 Zingaro Reserve Map 42-43; The Zingaro Reserve 45

The Mount Cofano Reserve 50; Monte Cofano Reserve Map 50-51

The Sea 55; Coastline 55; Small inlets and Beaches 57; Small Inlets and Beaches Map 58-59 Small Inlets and Beaches of the East 60; Billeci Inlet 60; San Vito Beach 61; Tonnarella Inlet 63; Torre dell’Uzzo Inlet 64; Ficarella Inlet 65; Marinella Inlet 66; Berretta Inlet 67; ’Disa Inlet 68; Punta Leone Inlet 69; Varo Inlet 70; Capreria Inlet 71; Mazzo di Sciacca Inlet 72

Small Inlets and Beaches of the West 73; Rossa Inlet 73; Topata Inlet 74; Mancina Inlet 75; Isulidda Inlet 76; Isulidda Beach 77; Rosa Inlet 78; Rina Santa Margherita Beach 79; Scaru Brucia Inlet 80; ’A Chianca Inlet 81; Scaru Zu Asparu Inlet 82; Calazza 83; Agliareddi small Inlets 84; Torre Tono Inlet 85

Caves, Walls, Wrecks, Seabeds Map 86-87; The Seabeds 89 Sea Caves 89; Gamberi Cave 91; Cala Rossa Caves 92; Colonne Cave 93; Camino Cave 94; Acqua Dolce Cave 95; Arco Cave 96; Perciata Cave 97; Passo delle Vacche Cave 98; Madonnina Cave 99 Sea Walls 101; Torre dell’Usciere Wall 102; Tonnara Wall 103; Cala Rossa Wall 104; Teschio Wall 105; Lago of Venere and Firriato Wall 106; Calampiso Wall 107; Punta Negra Wall 108; Monte Cofano Wall 109 Wrecks 111; Wreck of Kent “Nave dei Corani” 113; Wreck of Capua 114 Sea Banks 117; Faro Bank 118; Cala Rossa Bank 119; Cataratte Bank 120; Scoglio Scialandro Bank 121 Gastronomy 123; Craftsmanship 130; Entertainment, Sport and free Time 131; Events 133 The Neighbourhood 139; Map of the Province of Trapani 140141; Trapani 143; Custonaci 144; Scopello 145; Castellamare del Golfo 146; Erice 147; Segesta 149; Marsala 150; Selinunte 152 The Archipelago of the Egadi Islands 154 Favignana 155; Marettimo 156; Levanzo 157 Bibliography 158; Sitography 159; Photo credits 160

Tonnara Wall

Tonnara Wall In the long and wide Firriato Gulf, in the extraordinary mirror of water situated opposite the old Secco Almadraba, is located the Tonnara Wall, a vertical wall which from 3 meters reaches as far 30รท35 meters depth, the wall presents enormous stacks, in a crystal-clear water, which stands out on the sandy seabed. The underwater route is particularly bright also over 30 meters and develops among the enchanting, profound crevices of over 10 meters high, with seabeds full of groupers, moray eels and other numerous species of sedentary fishes.

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Cala Rossa Wall

Cala Rossa Wall Cala Rossa Wall is overlooking the homonymous bank and is situated in the Firriato Gulf, at about few hundred meters from the coast far. This underwater trip starts from a big rocky spur, which is placed at 5 meters depth, where the anchor is thrown. The fascinating sea route winds through canyons, built by big rocks, which are fallen in the past and reaches the depth of about 25 meters. It is an underwater trip, where every inlet, rock and gorges show really surprising jewels of flora and fauna.

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Yellow cluster Anemone, Parazoanthus axinellae

Teschio Wall Teschio Wall is located in the expanse of sea between the old Secco Almadraba and Tannure Point. The wall takes its name from a rocky formation, which indicates the position; a rock with some protuberances and little holes, which make it look like a human face. The no demanding underwater trip allows interesting walks as far 30 meters depth. Very rich are sea fauna and sea flora with the presence of acorn worms (sea worms), enchrusting sponges, European congers, shrimps, sea anemones and parazoanthus, which give the rock an orange and red colour.

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Lago di Venere and Tonnara del Secco

Lago of Venere and Firriato Wall In the mirror of water of Tannure Point is located the Lago of Venere and Firriato Wall. It is a complex of great naturalistic value with caves, crevices, isolated rocks, natural swimming pools, arches and sea passage. In this place there is the wonderful Lago of Venere, a natural swimming pools, which has been formed in the course of time because of the fall of big rocks from the nearby coast. Here is all very evocative both out and in the water. From the characteristic small inlet of the Lago of Venere the most extraordinary underwater routes start, fit for the most various naturalistic, photographic or in general recreative requirements. The depth of this place changes according to the chosen route and can reach also over 40 meters depth, with seabeds full of sea flora and sea fauna.

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Trapani and the Egadi Islands seen from Erice

THE NEIGHBOURHOOD San Vito Lo Capo, a famous and lovely sea resort in the province of Trapani, is the starting point for extraordianary routes of turistic, historical, cultural and enogastronomic nature for the whole territory of Trapani. A province full of ancient fortified villages on fertile hills, majestic castles, unforgettable evidences of ancient civilizations, watchtower built as defence of the coast and confortable sea resorts. A provincial territory with a long coast, spaced out by wonderful beaches with golden soft sand, small inlets of pebbles and rocks, touristic and pleasure boating ports, wonderful bays for fast landing and precious terrestrial and sea natural riserves, beauties to discover, as far easy reachable from the sea resort of San Vito. A province still appreciated by the ancient

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THE PROVINCE OF TRAPANI Trapani Custonaci Scopello

Erice

Marsala Selinunte

The archipelago of the Egadi Islands Favignana Marettimo

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Levanzo

Segesta

ipe

Marettimo

lag oo

f th

Castellamare del Golfo

e Th

THE PROVINCE OF TRAPANI

Eg ad i

San Vito Lo Capo

Erice

Custonaci

Scopello

TRAPANI

Levanzo

Castellammare del Golfo

Paceco

Favignana

Segesta

Calatafimi

Lake Rubino

Birgi

ello la d ne Iso agno St

Mozia

Salemi Gibellina Marsala

Lake of the Trinity

Mazara del Vallo

Castelvetrano Campobello di Mazara Mecropoli

Selinunte

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Trapani, windmill and salt mountains

Phoenicians who understood first of all the big potentialities offered by the versatility of the soil and the richness of its sea. A leap in the past, a breath of unpolluted air, a breathtaking view satisfies the soul. A good cooking full of enogastronomic excellences of the local tradition, accompanies and completes the whole with a healthy enjoyment. These are the ingredients present in the province of Trapani.

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Trapani, Tower of Ligny

Trapani 38°1’6.92”N12°30’52.68”E At about 40 Kilometers from San Vito lo Capo Trapani, the chief town of province, has a well-kept old town, full of wonderful churches and ancienth palaces, evidence of the eminent people, that history has reserved to the town. Pressed between the sea and the Mount of Erice, formerly Drepanon, was contended between Greeks and Carthaginians and dann surrended to the Romans in 241 B.C. Built by the Phoenicians, who ploughted the Mediterranean sea and who made of Trapani a commercial emporium. From the IX century B.C. the Phoenicians,

lost their indipendence, settled in the Western Mediterranean, building Carthage and reinforcing Trapani, transforming the town into an important port for the control of the different commercial slipways. In 395 Trapani passed to the Eastern Roman Empire, they are difficult years, also for the numerous barbarian invasions. The town reborns under the dominion of the Arab, who since 827 begin the occupation of Sicily. Trapani has known hereafter other periods of prosperity under the Normans and the Aragoneses. To visist: The Castle of the Colombaia, built on the isle at the entrance of the port of Trapani; The Tower of Ligny,

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a Spanish watchtower, the restored building houses today archaeological finds linked to the territory of Trapani; the fourtheenth century churches of Sant’Agostino and of San Domenico with the characteristic Gothic-Chiaramontan rosettes; the Church of Santa Maria del Gesù in the lateGothic forms; the sixteenth century Giudecca, in the Plateresque style, with towers covered by diamond point knobs; the Cathedral of San Lorenzo of the XVII century, preceded by a nartex of Giovanni Biagio Amico from Trapani; the baroque church of the Collegio dei Gesuiti, decorated inside with wonderful stuccos and mischi marbles; the seventieth century Senatorio Palace. No less significant, outside the old town, the Sanctuary of the Annunziata, of the fourteenth century with rosette on the main face and interessant chapels of the XIV and XVI centuries, together with the adjacent former monastery of the Carmelites, now seat of the Regional Museum “A. Pepoli”, with a wonderful cloister.

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Custonaci, Sanctuary of Maria SS

Custonaci 38°4’27.13”N12°41’18.94”E Custonaci, a small town at about 20 kilometers from San Vito Lo Capo, is known as country home of the marble: here is produced the Perlato of Sicilia, first quality limestone rock required all over the world. Used in the realisation of the main statue and the altar of the Sanctuary of San Vito, has been used even in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Custonaci is famous in whole Italy also for the living Christmas crib prepared every year in the Mangiapane Cave at the slopes of Mount Cofano. To see: in the middle of the present city plan,

Pietro. The real proud of this zone is the Mount Cofano Natural Reserve Directed, which streches for about 537 hectares and holds very different ecosystems and autochtonous vegetal species, as the famous sparrow hawk of Mount Cofano. Mangiapane Cave

Scopello Almadraba, cliffs the Sanctuary of Maria SS. di Custonaci, which keeps inside the painting of the Madonna di Custonaci, portraying a Madonna feeding her child also called Madonna of the milk; the Church of San Giuseppe; in Purgatorio street the Church of the Madonna del Suffragio; in the hamlet Cormino the Church of San

Scopello 38°04’13”N12°49’05”E A small sea village rising on a red rocky rook at the beginning of Zingaro Reserve. Scopello, a besutiful sea resort, hamlet of Castellammare del Golfo, is about 40 kilometers far from San Vito Lo Capo, but can be reached also through an evocative route of 7 kilometers along the paths of Zingaro Reserve Directed. The village, with the ancient renovated houses and the little craft workshops, develops around an ancient beam of the eighteenth century, on the place of a preceding Arab farmhouse. You sholudn’t miss the bath in the clear waters of the wondeful small inlet of Almadraba. To see the Old Almadraba working till some years ago; the evocative

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Stacks near the Almadraba; the ancient sighting Towers. Scopello is famous most of all for its sea and its coasts, which represent the most various things you can imagine; we pass from the pebble to the mouth of a torrent, to the huge stacks surrounded by the Indian figs, to the beach of the Guidaloca Bay, to the pebbles of the Azzurra Inlet and to the wonderful small inlets inside its territory.

Scopello Almadraba, stacks

Gulf of Castellamare

Castellamare del Golfo 38°2’0”N12°53’0”E It is about 45 kilometers far from San Vito Lo Capo and few kilometers far from Scopello. The sea resort boasts very ancient origins; we can find here traces of the first human settlements in Sicily. According to the opinions of historians and geographers, Castellammare del Golfo was founded as Emporium of the town of Segesta, the place where the ancient Elymers were in business with the foreign ships. The Arabs con-

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noted the village, renamed Al Madarig, that is “the steps”, probably from the mountain, that overlooks the bulid-up area as a fortress, made impregnable with the construction of the fortalice. And we owe to the Arabs the construction of an Almadraba, which turned Castellammare into an important shopping centre. To

Castellamare, castle

and of its immediate inland has become a significant centre of touristic attractions.

Erice 38°2’11.32”N12°35’1.55”E

Erice, Cathedral

visit: the characteristic Tourist Little Port and the imposing Arab Norman Castle; the renovated castle housing a museum with the task to hand down “The Memoir of the Mediterranean”. Today Castellammare, thanks to a heritage of inestimable value, built up by extraordianary naturalistic beauty of its cosats

It is a medieval small village, with small streets and pebbly alleys, which stretches on the Mount San Giuliano (751 m), about 35 kilometers far from San Vito Lo Capo. In the ancient village it is possible to see symbols, signs and legends, arisen before the Punics and the Romans who built here a sanctuary dedicated to the goddess of Beauty and of Love. Quietness, relax, tranquillity, peace invite to the reflection and to the consideration, and not by change, meeting place of the most important scholars of the world, who every years meet in a congress to identify the 10 planetary emergencies. The first historical news on the village, depitcts Erice as s town holy to the Elymer, an ethinc group whose origins aren’t still clear, who built here a templesanctuary in the VII century B.C. dedicated to the goddess of the fertility. During the

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