Erice, also known as U Munti in Sicilian, is a medieval village in the province of Trapani, located at the northwestern tip of Sicily. At 750 metres above sea level, Erice offers an excellent panoramic position. From the Balio Gardens surrounding Pepoli Castle, the panorama overlooks Trapani and its salt pans and the Aegadian Islands on one side, and Mount Cofano, the Gulf of Castellammare and the coast stretching to San Vito lo Capo on the other.
A mythical meeting point of art, history and landscape, Erice’s summit preserves its medieval centre virtually intact, perfectly integrated both with the structure of the mountain itself and with the surrounding nature.
Of a perfect triangular shape, the town is bounded on its western side by Cyclopean walls, interrupted by towers and the three Norman gates: Porta Spada, Porta del Carmine and Porta Trapani.
Walking through the streets of Erice, visitors are inevitably struck by the aromas of traditional Erice pastry-making and by the colours and decorations of typical handcrafted products, such as carpets and ceramics.
The town has now established itself as one of Sicily’s main tourist destinations. Moreover, it is part of the “Most Beautiful Villages in Italy” circuit.