Nature and Traditions around Cefalù
1 December 2020
Hidden Surroundings of Palermo
2 April 2021
Treasures of Western Sicily
Western Sicily is a charming and wild land with an amazing coastline exposed to African winds, beautiful vineyards, windmills, archaeological areas, baroque and medieval towns. The harbours of Trapani and Marsala connected Sicily with Spain for many centuries and this is visible in architectures and traditions.
Local people keep the craftsmanship of salt pans, colourful rugs and coral jewellery. Here food can have a surprising North-African character and the area is known for excellent ricotta cakes and the best cannoli of Sicily. Wine production is the largest of Sicily with excellent DOCs and local grape varieties.
Click on tabs below to choose your excursion.
Excursion 1
VINEYARDS, CANNOLI, WINES, OLIVE OIL AND THE DORIC TEMPLE OF SEGESTA
Highlights
- Walk through vineyards and olive groves
- Lunch and wine tasting at the organic winery
- Walk through archaeology and nature in Segesta
- Best cannolo tasting
The beautiful hills of the province of Trapani are one of the most important wine areas in Sicily. Dry climate, good soils, sunny days and cooler nights give excellent wines made from local grape varieties such as perricone or grillo.
With a short walk through vineyards and olive groves in an organic family run winery you will dive into the core of Sicilian agriculture. Walking makes everyone thirsty and hungry so later on with the owners we will taste their wines and olive oil and enjoy an informal meal together. On our way to the winery we will drive through small villages where local pastry-shops make the best Sicilian cannoli with local fresh ricotta. This is another experience that cannot be missed for a food and wine lover.
After lunch you will have the time to enjoy a digestive walk in the archaeological area of Segesta. Surrounded by beautiful landscapes and well trained vineyards the park hosts the ruins of an ancient Elymian city including a perfectly preserved Doric temple from the 5th century BC and a spectacular Hellenistic theatre. The perfect conclusion of a beautiful day.
Duration: full day
Group size: min 2 – max 16
Suitable for families: yes. A very enjoyable excursion for children who like spending a day outdoor with some good tastings for them.
Days: this tour can be booked every day except for Saturdays, Sundays and special holidays.
To book this excursion or receive more info please use our form or send us an email to info@paesaggiosicilia.com
Excursion 2
TRAPANI AND MARSALA SALTPANS. BIRDS, SALT, WINDMILLS, ISLANDS, SPANISH TOWERS AND THE BEST CANNOLI
Highlights
- Visit to the natural reserve of Trapani saltpans
- Visit to the natural reserve of the lagoon of Marsala
- Hiking across the island of Mozia
- Flamingos and other nesting birds
- Visit to the salt museum
- Arancine and best cannoli tasting
- Promenade and apertivo in the baroque centre of Trapani
- Amazing views
The natural reserves of Trapani and the lagoon of Marsala are two humid areas where historical windmills and 16th century Spanish watchtowers emphasise a fascinating landscape of saltpans and marshes where many water birds overwinter or stop during their seasonal migrations between Africa and Europe. Since the Phoenician times this region has prospered with the sea-salt farms.
By walking around the saltpans we will observe several species of birds and understand more about the sea-salt farming traditions. A little boat will take us to the charming island of San Pantaleo (Mozia) where the Mediterranean flora coexists with the historical grillo vineyards and the ruins of the ancient Phoenician town.
Pastry-shops and bakeries in the little hamlets around Trapani and Marsala make excellent arancine, calzoni and for sure the best cannoli of the whole Sicily: a must for anyone crossing this remote part of the island.
Trapani is a charming baroque town built on a narrow tongue of land and surrounded by blue sea and beautiful views. Later in the day, a glass of grillo wine surrounded by baroque churches, Spanish ramparts and friendly town life will complete this relaxing adventure in western Sicily.
Difficulty: very easy short walks. Comfortable clothes and good walking shoes are recommended.
Duration: full day
Group size: min 2 – max 16
Suitable for families: yes. A very enjoyable excursion for children with windmills, wild birds and lovely ice creams.
Days: this tour can be booked every day except for special holidays. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the WWF guardians offer the opportunity to book a walk through some private areas of the reserve of Trapani that are closed to visitors during the other days.
To book this excursion or receive more info please use our form or send us an email to info@paesaggiosicilia.com
Excursion 3
MT COFANO AND SCOPELLO. HIKING, TASTINGS AND BREATH-TAKING VIEWS
Highlights
- Hiking in the natural reserve of Mt Cofano
- The open air museum of the Mangiapane cave
- The 16th century watchtower Tonnara di Cofano
- Cassatelle, pane cunzato and other local specialities tastings
- The historical baglio and grillo wine aperitivo in Scopello
The coast of western Sicily offers some of the most spectacular sea-views of the whole island. Perspectives and landscapes change all the time, dramatic mountains are facing a crystal blue sea and here you are sometimes in a world on its own.
With a beautiful hike in the reserve of Mt Cofano you will discover the nature of this coast, where green pastures and blue sea stay side by side, and the historical “tonnara” with the Spanish watchtower known for its unique shape. Later in the rupestrian houses of the open air museum “Grotte Mangiapane” we will explore the traditions of this remote and extraordinary corner of Sicily.
In this area everything tastes good and unique, even bread does, and therefore we will intercalate our journey with a delicious “road-food” tour. We will finish this relaxing day in the charming “baglio” of Scopello with a glass of local “grillo” wine.
Excursion duration and difficulty: The reserve of Mt Cofano has very easy accessible trails and some steeper paths. We can agree together the length and difficulty of the trail and offer from 30 minutes to 4 hour trails. Just contact us to customise your own excursion. Comfortable clothes and good walking shoes are required. In case of bad weather, we will offer other options of walks or interesting visits.
Duration: full day
Group size: min 2 – max 22
Suitable for families: yes. A very enjoyable excursion for children with some excellent pizza and ice cream along the road.
Days: this tour can be booked every day except for Sundays and special holidays.
Suggested season: from October to late May
To book this excursion or receive more info please use our form or send us an email to info@paesaggiosicilia.com
Excursion 4
TRAPANI AND ERICE. HISTORY, COLOURFUL RUGS AND FOOD EXPERIENCE
Highlights
- The harbour and the baroque centre of Trapani
- Granita tasting
- The medieval rock of Erice
- Cheese and DOC Erice wine tasting
- Rug workshop
- Confectionary tasting
Exploring Trapani and Erice in one day is one of the best way to experience the huge diversity that our region can offer to visitors. Trapani, full of sunlight, with its animated fishing harbour, its Spanish watchtowers and lavish baroque churches, its beautiful coral jewelleries and a crystal-blue sea all around gives the feeling of a Mediterranean island on its own. The rock of Erice, with its severe Norman castle, its monasteries built with local grey limestone and its cobbled narrow medieval lanes is often covered by a foggy mist. But, once the mist clears away, you can enjoy the most spectacular views of the Aegadian Islands, the saltpans around Trapani and the reserve of Mt Cofano.
Erice is also known for frazzate, the handmade colourful rugs that nowadays only very few artisans are still making. We will meet one of them, a “real artist of the loom” and discover more about this fascinating local handicraft.
In Erice, a creative local chef is also a real cheese lover. In his beautiful premises you will taste some excellent cheeses and other products that are very typical for Trapani area while sipping a glass of Erice DOC wine.
If Trapani is known for granite and excellent cannoli, Erice is famous for genovesi and almond sweets, among them the delicious “zibibbo”. For sure we will not miss the opportunity to taste all these excellent examples of Sicilian confectionary.
Difficulty: very easy short walks with some steep lanes in Erice. Comfortable warm clothes and walking shoes are recommended.
Duration: full day
Group size: min 2 – max 16
Suitable for families: yes. A very enjoyable excursion for children with good tastings of local sweets. The itinerary is mostly on pedestrian walks.
Days: this tour can be booked every day except for Wednesdays and special holidays.
To book this excursion or receive more info please use our form or send us an email to info@paesaggiosicilia.com
