Trapani, Favignana and San Vito lo Capo
Its name derives from an ancient word for "hook," for the shape of its harbor. To the Sicanians it was Drepano, to the Greeks Drepanon, to the Romans Drepanum. Trapani was founded in antiquity on Sicily's western coast by the Sicanians and later colonized by the Elimi as Erice's port. The waters off the coast witnessed an epic sea battle between Carthaginians and conquering Romans in 241 BC, considered a turning point in Rome's conquest of the central Mediterranean. Geographically, Trapani is an unusual Sicilian city for its westward position, which affords spectacular views of some of the Mediterranean's most beautiful sunsets. The surrounding coastal plain is distinguished for its rich salt deposits, and the white mineral is ground by the windmills seen along the coast. All of which lends the environs an appearance that sometimes seems more Dutch than Sicilian.

Even the oldest parts of the city have been modernized in many respects, but Trapani shows much of its medieval past, if not its ancient heritage. During the Norman era, the city had a polyglot population not unlike that of Palermo, with large Jewish and Muslim quarters. It was an important port for trade with Africa. The Annunciation Sanctuary, in Via Conte Pepoli, was built in the fourteenth century in the Romanesque Gothic style and still retains some splendid medieval elements such as the facade's portal and rose window, though the church's interior has been extensively modified.

The adjacent Pepoli Regional Museum is renowned for its medieval and modern collections, including articles from the Bourbon era, though it also houses some ancient finds. It displays quite a few smaller craft and folk works which one rarely sees in other museums.

The Spedaletto (Giudecca Palace) is a Catalan Gothic structure built in the sixteenth century. Though interesting, it is similar to buildings of the same style in Palermo and elsewhere in Sicily. On Via Sant'Agostino, the Church of Saint Mary of Jesus has a splendid Renaissance Gothic facade.

The Church of Sant'Agostino (Saint Augustine) is located in Piazzetta Saturno. It is Romanesque Gothic with a beautiful rose window. This structure was extensively restored and partially reconstructed following the damage it suffered during the Allied bombardment in 1943.

The Cathedral and the Collegio Church were built in the Baroque style during the seventeenth century, the former on the remains of an older church.

Favignana: Located about 17 kilometers southwest of Trapani, this is the largest of the Egadi, or Egidean, Islands. Still known for their tuna (tunny) fishing, these islands are now famous as beach resorts. Favignana, in particular, is a favorite spot for Sicilian sun worshipers. The ferries from Trapani arrive at the port city of Favignana, from which transportation to the other islands (Levanzo, Marettimo) is available. Most of Favignana's beachgoers are Italian; it seems that few foreign visitors venture this far.

San Vito lo Capo: "Saint Vitus Cape" is a charming coastal town in the Trapani area with a great beach. Extending below Mount Cofano, a high pointed limestone cliff visible from a distance, San Vito is near the Zingaro Nature Reserve and the hamlet of Scopello, where some scenes of the movie Ocean's Twelve were filmed in 2004. San Vito is known for its annual couscous festival (see below). A good place for a vacation, and Erice and Segesta, two of Sicily's historic jewels, are not far away. This might almost be considered a "secret" spot known to few tourists, presently popular with Germans.

For Visitors: San Vito holds a couscous festival the third week of September. Trapani has an interesting Summer music festival (the Luglio Musicale Trapanese) in July, and also an annual tuna festival. Speaking of seafood, it is excellent in this part of Sicily. We suggest the tuna, a delicious experience nothing like the stuff you buy in cans at the supermarket; it's not even the same variety.