Glorious Trapani, Segesta and Erice

Trip Start Apr 13, 2011

Trip End Apr 30, 2011

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mv Aegean Odyssey

Flag of Italy Erice, Sicily, Italy
Friday, April 22, 2011

Today we woke up to drizzle, wind and cold weather. After breakfast, we geared up for a full day exploring Segesta, once an advanced center of the Elymian civilization. The city is thought to have been founded in the 5th to 4th century BC by a combination of exiled Trojans, Phocaeans from Greece and Sicans of Sicily. Segesta was well defended, located on a vast plateau between two peaks and surrounded by walls. Presiding in splendid isolation is a stunning Greek theater and the majestic 36-columned, 5th-century BC Doric temple. This archaeological jewel is in an extraordinary state of preservation and makes a superb sight amid its surroundings of rolling hills. How incredibly beautiful all of this is and Olga and I are in awe.
We were starving and our group got a very special treat to go to a famous local restaurant in Erice called the Tonnara di Bonagia. That is where they used to can tuna and it is a spectacular place overlooking the harbor and ocean. Olga of course, immediately went into hiding as she cannot stand the smell of fish

Marzipan pastry shop in Erice

. The lunch was great and we all wished we could have a dip in the pool. But in true Road Scholar fashion off to more learning.
We explored the ancient hilltop town of Erice. Upon seeing Pepoli Castle soaring 2,500 feet above the sea, the Norman architecture may lead you to believe that this is a town out of the Middle Ages, but, in fact, this exquisite hill-top town has origins that reach back to prehistory. There is evidence of a cult to a goddess of fertility, Venus Erycina, that can still be seen inside the castle, along with a sacred well and Roman bath. The Norman walls encircling the town incorporate original Phoenician fortifications – you can still see letters from the Phoenician alphabet carved in their surface. We strolled upwards in the heat along winding, cobblestone streets to grand squares with 14th-century churches and wander atmospheric byways dotted with English-style gardens. During some free time we did some souvenir shopping and had an ice cream. We also tried out the famous marzipan pastries.

Then we went to the famous Patisserie Maria Grammatico to have the Genovesi, the best cookie with custard we have ever eaten in our lives. Worth going to Erice for!!!

The views were incredidble. On the return to the ship, a photo stop will be made at the "Saline," salt marshes with their trademark windmills. Here some of the original Archimedes ‘screws’ – pumps designed to move water in the process of salt extraction – have been restored. Salt from these marshes makes an intriguing and useful souvenir.

We also saw the Good Friday Procession in Erice and Trapani. It was so great! After this full day, we are just enjoying sitting outside at the Terrace Cafe and have a very small dinner.

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