Calatafimi Segesta

Calatafimi Segesta is in Sicily. Calatafimi, with the Castle of Eufemio and its churches, is characterised by its lanes and small streets of Arab derivation. At about 10 km from this town there is the archaeological site of Segesta, with the Greek temple and the ancient theatre, where they hold classical performances.

Understand
The town takes its name from the Arab "Qal’at Fimi" (that is Rock of Eufemio): he was an officer of Byzantium who, according to an old tradition, favoured the conquest of Sicily by the Saracens. Some scholars link the name Calatafimi with Acesta, a little town contemporary of Segesta, or with Castrum Phimes, from the name of a noble landowner of Segesta, named also by Cicero. The present town originated around the “Castle of Phimes”, and its oldest part stands here.

By plane
Calatafimi is about 60 km away from Aeroporto "Falcone e Borsellino" of Palermo-Punta Raisi and 50 km from Aeroporto "Vincenzo Florio" of Trapani-Birgi.

From Airport Palermo-Punta Raisi, you can get the train from Punta Raisi to Alcamo Diramazione railway station (one every 30 minutes) and take a taxi from there.

By car

 * From Palermo &mdash; Through the A29 Motorway Palermo-Trapani, at Segesta exit, after passing the archaeological area, you enter the National Road 113 (S.S.113) towards Trapani. The junction for Calatafimi is about 3 km away.
 * From Trapani &mdash; Through the A29 Motorway, towards Palermo, at Segesta exit; otherwise you can go along the National Road 113 and take the junction after those for Vita and Pianto Romano.

Get around
Owing to the particular geographical position of Calatafimi, many streets have a steep  slope. Moreover, Eufemio Castle and the Church of Santissimo Crocifisso are two perfect points of reference as they are visible from different places. After going uphill for Via Segesta (take the ingresso della cittadina if you are coming from the National Road 113), you get to largo Duca degli Abruzzi which is the right starting point for any exploration. On the left there is Via Alcide de Gasperi (an almost new area), while the main road link is corso Garibaldi, on the right.

From via Marconi, an important main road which continues to Corso Vittorio Emanuele, you will arrive at piazza Plebiscito and can start an artistic tour of the town. Here you can admire the Church of Madonna di Giubino, built by Giovan Biagio Amico from Trapani, close to the 16th-century small church of the Benedictine nunnery of Santa Caterina, and, on the other side of the square, the Church of San Michele, with the Civic Library on its right. Further on, along via Marconi, you will meet the Town Hall (Palazzo Comunale), between palazzo Pampalone, where the hero of the Risorgimento (19th-century struggle for Italian unification), Garibaldi rested after the battle of Pianto Romano, and the 16th-century church of San Giuliano.

From via Marconi you will arrive at piazza Nocito and, behind it, piazza Nullo. At the end of the slope, there is the mother Church of San Silvestro Papa, and, if you go on climbing, you get to the hill’s peak (338 m high) where Eufemio Castle rises. Coming down viale Oberdan you will find the medieval quarter of Borgo (the old village), that keeps integral its environmental features inside the small streets and courtyards.

Taxi service
As the town centre of Calatafimi is quite small and its streets are narrow, there is no bus service, so you can walk, or for long distances, you can use your car or get a taxi.



See

 * There are 3 major sights at this location, and there are other remains from the Roman and medieval periods which are documented by signs in five languages across the site.



Events

 * Garibaldians' Day: on 15th May
 * Procession of Our Lady of the Assumption: on 15th August.
 * Procession of Madonna del Giubino: on the fourth Sunday of September.
 * Procession of the Immaculate Conception: on December 8th (evening and night).
 * Estate Calatafimese (Calatafimi's Summer): from the end of July to the first days of September).
 * Procession of the Immaculate Conception: on December 8th (evening and night).
 * Estate Calatafimese (Calatafimi's Summer): from the end of July to the first days of September).



Go next

 * Trapani
 * Nature reserve Bosco di Alcamo
 * Alcamo
 * Castellammare del Golfo
 * Salemi
 * Erice