Ballata

Erice is a historic town located on top of Mount Erice in Sicily. Primarily medieval in appearance, it, in fact, has much older origins. The ancient Greek name, Eryx, is associated with a Greek hero of the same name who was said to have been king of the town.

However, the town was actually established by the Phoenicians. It was destroyed in the First Punic War and declined in importance thereafter. After this it was ruled by the Aghlebids, Arabs, Normans until it became involved in internal struggle over lands by Italian kingdoms up to the Risorgimento.

The Grotta Mangiapane is one of those tourist destinations that is so far off the beaten track that, while it may be of interest to tourists, it really isn't made for the itineraries of most. It is a bit of a secret that is unfamiliar to anyone but locals.

However, it is well worth a visit. Just find a luxury villa in Sicily and explore this unique site for yourself!

The giant cave, located on the west coast of Sicily, is home to an ancient village, that may date back some 10,000 years and which has remained untouched and untainted for decades. It is the largest of nine Scurati Caves in Custonaci where prehistoric men first settled. For a long time thereafter it was a small town and community. Today, it is abandoned and is now basically a large, open-air museum, dedicated to Italy of the past and which allows visitors to step back in time.

If you’re spending Easter in Italy then why not check out one or some of these enchanting events? Continuing on from our two other articles which detail several Easter celebrations, let’s finish with these three festivals.

The ‘Processione dei Misteri’ is the oldest Easter Festival in Italy and is hosted in the city of Trapani on Sicily Island. It has been celebrated at Easter here for over four hundred years!

This 24 hour event consists of twenty huge artistic carved representations of scenes from the Passion and Crucifixion of Christ.

Jutting out to sea on the west coast of Sicily, stands the tremendous city of Trapani! This picturesque urban area offers lots of things for the tourist to see and do as well as some of the finest scenery in the world to gaze upon!

Why not stay in a gorgeous vacation villa in Erice, only a few kilometres from Trapani. Here you can sit back, relax and soak in the panoramic views of the Trapani area before and after your thrilling days of exploration!

Why not kick start your day of adventure by sailing out to the nearby Egadi Islands and stop off on the island of Pantelleria? This is the largest island off the coast of Sicily, which in turn, is the largest island off the coast of Italy!

Those who are interested in archaeology and who are planning a trip to Italy will find themselves in no short supply of incredible archaeological sites and museums to visit. Considering the country's long and complex past, with many different periods of rule and civilizations, it makes sense that these archaeological institutions are dotted all over the country and, among them, are some of the most famous examples in the world. For every Pompeii and Colosseum, however, there are also endless local sites worth perusing. If you have found a vacation rental in Sicily, for example, you may want to head to the island of Isola di San Pantaleo, which is basically one great archaeological site called Mozia, to explore the past.

Mozia can be reached by ferries that launch from two spots on the lagoon shore between Marsala and Trapani. Run by two different companies, these ferries leave and return continuously throughout the day (except during lunch) and return tickets cost around five euros. When you get to the island, you will find a ticket office by the ferry jetty where you can pay for admission to the island and museum. On the island are basic facilities like a restroom, benches, a water fountain to get a drink, and a little cafe serving pastries, pizza, and some other small bits to eat and drink.