Erice

We have a new favourite hilltop town! It is not in Tuscany or Umbria. It is Erice in the hills above Trapani.

We visited there by catching the local bus up to the funicular for a 20 – 25 minute ride to the top. Instantly the visit was worthwhile because the temperature fell by 5 – 8 degrees giving us some respite from the heat. It was very reminiscent of the hilltop towns of Tuscany. It was established by the Phoenicians who we believe died out after a long series of accidents after they slipped on the marble streets.

It was a wonderful balance of quiet alleys, restaurants and souvenir shops without being too commercial. It is the sort of place where you need to sit as we did in a pasticceria and eat Sicilian delicacies with a good cup of coffee.

Erice can normally be accessed by road as well but not today. It was closed to traffic and turned over to the Erice Hill Climb. We stood at 1 point with views of castles above us and hairpin bends of the road below us, motors roaring and tyres squealing, castles sleeping. At the finishing line, before we left, we set up to take photos, but between seeing the car and the shutter closing, we ended up with a series of photos of bitumen!

Highly recommended for a stay but perhaps when the hill climb is not on. We might buy a Ferrari and enter next year. At least we would look the part.