{"id":114857,"date":"2024-01-16T08:17:18","date_gmt":"2024-01-16T07:17:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trapaniwelcome.it\/places\/erice-must-see\/"},"modified":"2025-02-07T07:28:37","modified_gmt":"2025-02-07T06:28:37","slug":"erice-must-see","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/trapaniwelcome.it\/en\/places\/erice-must-see\/","title":{"rendered":"Erice Must-see"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Erice: must-see<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Every corner of the city is beautiful to visit.
We recommend:<\/p>\n

Mother<\/strong> Church – The church, dedicated to Our Lady of<\/strong> the Assumption<\/strong>, is located near Porta Trapani<\/em>. It was built by Frederick of Aragon in the 14th century for defensive purposes, as can be clearly seen from the massive forms and battlements<\/u> that decorate it. From the top of the quadrangular bell tower, on which there is an order of single-lancet<\/u> and two of double-lancet windows<\/u>, one could in fact well watch over the entire gulf below. <\/p>\n

The exterior has been remodeled several times and, of the original style, only the two portals remain. The beautiful rose window is now partially hidden by a Gothic portico added a century later. The interior, in 19th-century neo-Gothic<\/strong> style, is divided into three naves by pillars supported by cross vaults. On the aisles, there are numerous chapels of various periods. <\/p>\n

“Antonio Cordici” Municipal Museum<\/strong> – Arranged inside the Town Hall<\/strong>, in Piazza Umberto I,<\/strong> the museum<\/strong> contains a number of archaeological finds, statuary works and paintings. Of particular note are the beautiful sculptural group of theAnnunciation<\/strong> by Antonello Gagini (1525) and a small marble head of Venus<\/strong> ericina.
Just beyond, on the right of the square, Via Cordici<\/em> flows into the pretty <\/strong><\/em>St. Dominic Square<\/strong>, bordered by the street of the same name and beautiful buildings.<\/p>\n

Venus Castle<\/strong> – Perched on the southeastern tip of the mountain, with a splendid view of the sea and the plain below, the castle dates in its present form to the Norman period. Its history, however, began much earlier, when Aeneas built a temple on this site dedicated to his mother Venus. Since then, the cult of Venus Ericina<\/strong> spread throughout the Mediterranean. <\/p>\n

In Norman times, on the ruins of the temple and with its own stones, a fortress was built, surrounded by mighty walls and protected by the Balio Towers<\/strong>, once connected to the castle by a drawbridge.
The defensive character is also evidenced by the plumb line above the entrance gate enriched by the coat of arms of Charles V of Spain and a beautiful mullioned window.<\/p>\n

Balio Garden<\/strong> – The garden surrounds the Castle of Venus<\/strong> and the Balio Towers<\/strong>, built in the Norman period as an advanced defense of the castle. The name of the towers and the garden derive from the Norman governor, known as “the bajulo<\/em>,” who lived here. There is a beautiful view of Mount Cofano<\/strong>, Trapani<\/strong> and the Egadi<\/strong> Islands. <\/p>\n

Elymian-Punic <\/strong>Walls<\/strong> – The mighty wall of Elymian layout (8th-6th cent. BCE) once surrounded the northeastern side of the city, the only one exposed to attack. To the large, older blocks that characterize the lower part, an elevation of smaller ashlars was added in later periods. The walls were equipped with watchtowers, a walkway accessed by steep steps and small openings that allowed the passage of inhabitants and perhaps supplies.
The best-preserved section runs along Via dell’ Addolorata<\/strong>, from Porta Carmine<\/strong> to Porta Spada<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

Church of St. Ursula<\/strong> – Built in 1413, it still preserves, in the main nave, the original Gothic structure with ribbed cross vaults. The sculptural groups of the Mysteries<\/strong> (18th cent.), carried in procession on Good Friday<\/strong>,<\/u> are preserved here. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Insights<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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