| Trapani | ||
 | ||
| State | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Sicily | |
| Territory | Trapanese | |
| Inhabitants | 70 404 (2012) | |
| Name inhabitants | Trapani | |
| Prefix tel | 39 0923 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 91100 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Trapani is a city of Sicily north-west, capital of the province of the same name.
To know
Known as City of Salt and Sail, has developed over time a thriving economic activity linked to the extraction and trade of salt, taking advantage of its natural position, projected on the Mediterranean, and of its port, an ancient commercial outlet for Eryx (today's Erice), located on the mountain overlooking Trapani.
Geographical notes
It is located in the western part of Sicily, on the promontory of the ancient Drepanum, Latin name in turn derived from the Greek Drèpanon (sickle), due to the shape of the peninsula on which the city stands. Its municipal territory is crossed by the Chinisia River. The Colombaia Island, the Palumbo Rock, the Asinelli Island and the Porcelli rocks are also part of the territory of Trapani. On the sea in front of the city, less than ten kilometers away, are the Egadi Islands.
When to go
Due to its temperate climate it can be visited all year round. The average temperature in winter is 15.5 ° C, in spring 19.7, in summer 29.1 and in autumn 23.7.
Background
Mythology has it that a scythe that fell from Ceres' hands turned into an arched tongue of land on which the city then rose. In the Aeneid, Virgil recounts that Aeneas's father, Anchises died in Drepanum and, after escaping from Dido, the Trojan hero returned there to celebrate games, the novendial games. Trapani soon became a city-emporium thanks to its happy geographical position. The important strategic position was used during the First Punic War. The port of Trapani during the Middle Ages was one of the most important in the Mediterranean. In 1478, Ferdinand the Catholic granted the city the title of Very inviting. In 1535 Charles V arrived in Trapani after defeating the Turkish fleet. The city was now so well established in the geopolitical chessboard of the time that Charles V himself deserved the nickname "Key of the Kingdom".
How to orient yourself
Trapani - Old Town: full screen map.How to get
By plane
- 1 Trapani-Birgi airport, contrada Birgi, Trapani (16 km), ☎ 390923610111, @[email protected]. National and European flights, scheduled e low cost.
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The reference airport is that of Trapani-Birgi which is located 13 kilometers south of the city center. It is experiencing a phase of strong relaunch by offering, among others, links for Pantelleria, Rome, Bergamo, Pisa, Treviso, Bari, Verona, Parma, Bologna, Turin, Dublin, Frankfurt, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Girona, Stockholm, London, Paris, Oslo, Malta is Madrid. Following Ryanair's new market strategies, thirteen other routes will operate from Trapani (34 in total) to various national and European destinations. The two new Boeing 737-800s allowed the launch of new routes for Ancona, Billund, Bratislava, Cagliari, Eindhoven, Genoa, Gothenburg, Perugia, Karlsruhe, Krakow, Maastricht, Memmingen, Trieste, Valencia.
By car
You can reach Trapani by car from Palermo via the A29 motorway: there are about 97 kilometers that separate the two capitals. The motorway, a natural continuation of the Trapani ring road, branches off to the east allowing you to reach the cities of the provincial hinterland and also the Palermo-Punta Raisi airport, about 80 km away. The SP. 21 connects the capital to Trapani-Birgi airport.
The port of Trapani, which is tourist and commercial, is connected with the Egadi Islands is Pantelleria and can also be reached from Cagliari, Tunis is Susa in Tunisia, Livorno.
On the train
As far as rail transport is concerned, Trapani is connected to Palermo by trains that have an average journey of two hours. The train station is located in the city center allowing you to easily reach the historic center and the port.
By bus
The Sicilian Transport Company connects the city with the Trapani Birgi airport, while the company Segesta srl makes connections between the port of Trapani, almost every hour with Palermo (arriving at the central station), with a journey time of one hour and 45 minutes.
The Transport and Mobility Company (municipal company) manages the bus service within the municipal area with 12 urban and 3 extra-urban lines.
How to get around
By public transport
The historic center, from via Garibaldi to Torre Ligny, can be visited entirely on foot. For mobility within the historic center, some electric buses (pollicino) are also used, which can pass through the Limited Traffic Zones. To reach the sanctuary of the Madonna di Trapani and the adjacent Pepoli Museum, you can take the municipal urban services bus.
By taxi
A taxi service is available in front of the railway and maritime stations. You will also find taxis outside the arrivals area at Trapani Birgi Airport.
By car
To visit the salt marshes reserve and its windmills it is preferable to use a private car or a rental car.
From Trapani Airport to Trapani port there are several collective taxi services.
What see
The ancient fortress of the "Colombaia"
Garibaldi Street
Giudecca Palace
Old Town
Caverretta Palace
Cathedral of San Lorenzo
Fountain of Piazza Lucatelli
Piazza Garibaldi, on the "Marina"
Church of Purgatory with the mysteries
Piazza Vittorio Veneto, with the palace of the Prefecture and the Province
Ligny Tower
The north walls
Windmill at the salt pans and salt museum
The Villa Margherita, seat of the performances of the "Musical July
Painting by Titian at the Pepoli Museum
The sanctuary of the Madonna of Trapani
Events and parties
Every August 16th, it's the Feast of the Madonna, recurrence of the main patroness of the Diocese of Trapani and co-patroness of the City of Trapani. Mass is celebrated by the Bishop in the Basilica-Sanctuary and with a Pontifical in the Cathedral of Trapani, followed by a procession through the streets of the historic center, with a wooden copy of the original statue kept in the sanctuary, and the traditional fireworks at the port .
The biggest event, which brings thousands of visitors to the city, is the Procession of the mysteries of Trapani, which takes place on Good Friday, for 400 years. The origin is Spanish. The procession, made up of 20 sacred groups, begins at 2 pm on Good Friday and ends twenty-four hours later. The procession that starts from the Church of the Souls of Purgatory runs through the main city streets. The Mysteries are the artistic representation of the death and passion of Christ. In total there are 20 sacred groups, including two simulacra of the dead Jesus and of Mary of Sorrows. The statues are fixed to a wooden base called vara, with a particular procedure, in order to allow a certain oscillation during transport, such as to express a scenic representativeness to the group
In July there are performances of the "Trapani music July", open-air opera season, in the evocative setting of Villa Margherita. An event that has been around for over 100 years.
What to do
- "Circumnavigare" on foot the walls of Torre di Ligny on a morning of rough sea.
- In the evening, a walk along the north walls, from fish market square to Torre di Ligny.
- You can't miss the mulberry granita from Colicchia in via delle Arti.
- And also the particular Trapanese pizza from Calvin in via Nunzio Nasi, in small rooms of a former rendezvous house from the early twentieth century, now renovated.
- The so-called "tour of the seven churches" (Cathedral, Jesuits, Purgatory, Itria, Badia Nuova, Santa Rita, ending at the Sanctuary of the Madonna).
- To visit the crypt of the ancient statue of the Madonna of Trapani, in the homonymous sanctuary, which can be touched as a sign of devotion.
- Those who love nature can take a walk to the salt pans, they will not be disappointed, or even "birdwatching" (contact the local WWF).
- A dip in the sea of San Giuliano beach.
- In summer, open-air operatic music performances at Villa Margherita.
Shopping
To buy the red tuna bottarga and in general all the tuna products. And also the particular red garlic from Nubia, the DOP oil of the Trapani valleys, and the wines, including Marsala. In some craft shops you can still find objects in red coral.
How to have fun
Where to eat
The fish couscous and the traditional one should be tasted pasta cull'agghìa, busiate with pesto alla trapanese.
Average prices
- Trattoria: At the usual place, Via Orlandini, 30A. Excellent value for money. It is very popular for business clients at lunch and for Trapani in the evening. Reservation recommended.
- Sicilian winery, Via Giudecca, 36. it is a typical local cuisine.
- Osteria La Bettolaccia, Via Enrico Fardella 25. Small restaurant in the historic center. The menu changes every day according to the catch. Young clientele. Few tables, compulsory to book.
- Trattoria Saline, Contrada Nubia (Inside the Salt Museum, in the salt marshes reserve). Very distinctive. The fish is fresh and particularly tasty, because sea bass and sea bream are raised directly in the salt pans
High prices
- Taverna Paradiso, Lungomare Dante Alighieri, 22 - 24 (In front of the ancient fish market square). Quality fish dishes but at high prices. Frequented by the upper middle class of the city.
- In the light, Corso Vittorio Emanuele 75 (It is located in the main street of the historic center). It is very nice as an environment and atmosphere. Particularity is to buy and smoke cigars in an ad hoc area. A 4-star B&B is attached.
Where stay
In recent years, dozens of B & Bs have sprung up in the city, many of them family-run, with moderate prices.
Moderate prices
- Aosta hotels, Via Duca D'Aosta, 53. It is a clean and comfortable 2 star hotel. It is located on the outskirts, so the car is advisable.
- Gafada Holiday Home, Via Poeta Calvino 72 (Behind the Central Post Office), ☎ 39 3489277897, @trapaniapp [email protected].
moderate prices. Check in: 14, 00, check-out: 10, 00. Gafada Casa Vacanza offers accommodation equipped with all comforts just a few hundred meters away from the beach, services and places of major tourist interest in the city.
moderate prices. Average prices
- Ai Lumi, Corso Vittorio Emanuele 71. 4-star B&B in a period building in the historic center, with an early twentieth century atmosphere. The restaurant is attached.
- Holiday House Fardella Centrale, via G.B. Burden. , in the main residential street. It is a comfortable residence in the commercial area.
High prices
- La Gancia, Fish Market Square. characteristic charming hotel on the Tramontana Walls, in the historic center. Do not miss the sea view rooms.
- Crystal Hotel, Piazza Umberto I. a 4-star hotel located in the square of the railway station, particularly popular with business travelers.
- Hotel Baia dei Mulini and I Mulini Resort, Dante Aligheri seafront. four stars, are located directly on the beach of San Giuliano about three kilometers from the historic center. Great summer accommodation. Quiet and comfortable the resort, with the characteristic green park on the sea.
Safety
Quiet and safe city for tourists, even at night. Petty crime is practically non-existent.
How to keep in touch
Around
- Nature reserve "Stagnone of Marsala Islands" - The reserve includes the islands just north of Marsala including the Punic archaeological site of Motya and the adjoining salt flats.
