The magnificent Basilica-Sanctuary of Maria Santissima Annunziata
(also called Madonna di Trapani) originally built in 1315-1332
and rebuilt in 1760. It houses a marble statue of the Madonna of Trapani,
which might be the work of Nino Pisano
The Baroque Palazzo della Giudecca 'or Casa Ciambra
The Fontana del Tritone (Triton's Fountain)
The Baroque Palazzo della Giudecca or Casa Ciambra
The Cathedral (1635)
The fine buildings on the main Corso Vittorio Emanuele
Enjoy the bustle of the port. See the Italians shouting and
gesticulating as they load the large ferries to Tunis
The city is renowned for its Easter procession, I Misteri, when the town's guilds parade a groups of sculpted 17th century and
18th century religious statues through the streets in a procession lasting for 16 hours
on Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
For almost 24 hours, groups of baroque statues are carried
through the streets of Trapani on the western tip of Sicily.
This Good
Friday Procession is the biggest one in Italy.
Carrying the heavy statues is
a real sacrifice.
Getting out
Erice is well worth a visit.
Regular buses go to this nearby precipitous hilltop town, but the best
way to get there is by the new cable-car. Wander around and soak in the
atmosphere.
The Egadi islands (Favignana,
Levanzo e Marettimo) are very close and well worth a visit, with their
wonderful beaches and bays.
San Vito Lo Capo is a wonderful beach at 40Km from
Trapani, witch white sand and crystal blue sea.
Visit the Greek temple, theatre and ruins at Segesta
on a day trip, or en-route to Palermo.
Visit the saline, where using the heat of
the sun, the salt is
extracted from the sea water.
Less frequently they go to Marsala,
Mazara del Vallo, Castelvetrano (for the ruins of Selinunte), Sciacca, Agrigento
and Segesta.
Getting in: By Plane
Trapani has a small airport (TPS), with internal flights to
Rome, Milan and Pantelleria. Since September 2006, Ryanair is operating low-cost
flights to Pisa, Milan and several other European cities.
Getting in: By Boat
Trapani is the port for frequent boats and hydrofoils to the
Egadi Islands. Nightly boats (and hydrofoils in summer) also run to
Pantelleria, with weekly (or so) ones to Tunis. See SIREMAR and Ustica Lines
Getting around
Trapani is small enough to walk around. Buses pass the ferry port and the
adjacent bus station and railway station are on the edge of the city center.
Text based in part on work by
Angelo Romano and
Colin
Jensen, Wikitravel user(s)
Episteme and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.
