Trapani

Trapani  is a port city and the capital of Trapani province in the north-west corner of Sicily, Italy. Trapani has a lively atmosphere due to its position as the capital and its economic activities as a port. It has a rich history and many historical buildings have been preserved. Old traditions are cherished. Thanks to the presence of an international airport, the city with its marina and beaches is increasingly popular as a tourist destination. The number of cruise ships calling at the city increases every year. For the individual traveler Trapani is a great base for day trips or for traveling further afield in Sicily.

Understand
The population of the urban area is about 90,000, including the north-eastern suburb of Casa Santa, which is not part of the comune (municipality) of Trapani.

History
The history of Trapani (Greek: Drépanon, Roman: Drepanum) is as old as Greek mythology. As early as the 13th century BC, the Elymians, who had settled in Erice and Segesta, used Trapani as a natural harbor. The Phoenicians expanded the city in the 9th century BC. In 260 BC, the Carthaginians used the port as a base. Two major battles took place here. In 249 BC the Romans were defeated by the Carthaginians. Eight years later it was the turn of the Romans, who defeated the Carthaginians. The Romans had little interest in the city. In the tenth century CE, under the Emirate of Sicily, Trapani regained importance and revived. The Arabs fortified the city walls and improved trade relations whereby salt had an important role. It was sold to Italy, France and England. Arab architecture still determines for a large part the cityscape of Trapani. The Normans conquered the city in 1077 and turned it into a prosperous free port. Charles I of Anjou put heavy loads on to the people who successfully rebelled in the 1282 Sicilian Vespers. The city passed under the Kingdom of Aragon and grew. In 1817 Trapani became a provincial capital. During World War II, the city suffered greatly. Heavy bombing destroyed the San Pietro district, the oldest part of the city, including the Garibaldi Theatre.

By plane


The airport is at Birgi, about 15 km from the center of Trapani. AST (Azienda Siciliana Trasporti) buses cost €4.90, leave every 45 minutes and take about 40 minutes. The last bus leaves the airport at 23:30 in the summer months, so the latest flights miss it. An alternative is to take 25 minutes walk to the Mozia-Birgi station and get the train to Trapani for €2.25. Sometimes Ryanair attendants propose that you buy tickets for the bus on the flight. These buses are usually more expensive than AST ones.

By train
Frequent trains run from Palermo, with a few stopping at Segesta. Local trains also run to Marsala, Mazara del Vallo and Castelvetrano (for the ruins of Selinunte).



By bus
Frequent buses run from Palermo. Less frequently they go to Marsala, Mazara del Vallo, Castelvetrano (for the ruins of Selinunte), Sciacca, Agrigento and Segesta.

By boat
Trapani is the port for frequent boats and hydrofoils to the Egadi Islands. Nightly boats (and hydrofoils in summer) also run to Pantelleria, with weekly (or so) ones to Tunis. See Siremar and Ustica Lines.

Get around
The old town and port is small enough to walk around. ATM (Azienda Trasporti e Mobilità) is the urban bus company, not to be confused with AST, which services the airport and the rest of Sicily. Buses pass the ferry port, and the adjacent bus station and railway station are on the edge of the city centre.

See

 * The magnificent Basilica-Sanctuary of Maria Santissima Annunziata (also called Madonna di Tràpani) was built in 1315-1332 and rebuilt in 1760. It houses a marble statue of the Madonna of Tràpani, which might be the work of Nino Pisano
 * The Baroque Palazzo della Giudecca or Casa Ciambra
 * The Fontana del Tritone (Triton's Fountain)
 * The Baroque Palazzo della Giudecca or Casa Ciambra
 * The Cathedral (1635)
 * The fine buildings on the main Corso Vittorio Emanuele
 * Enjoy the bustle of the port. See the Italians shouting and gesticulating as they load the large ferries to Tunis.
 * Enjoy the bustle of the port. See the Italians shouting and gesticulating as they load the large ferries to Tunis.
 * Enjoy the bustle of the port. See the Italians shouting and gesticulating as they load the large ferries to Tunis.
 * Enjoy the bustle of the port. See the Italians shouting and gesticulating as they load the large ferries to Tunis.

Do

 * The city is renowned for its Easter procession, I Misteri, when the town's guilds parade a groups of sculpted 17th-century and 18th-century religious statues through the streets in a procession lasting for 16 hours on Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
 * A day excursion by boat to the Aegadian (Egadi) Islands
 * The city is renowned for its Easter procession, I Misteri, when the town's guilds parade a groups of sculpted 17th-century and 18th-century religious statues through the streets in a procession lasting for 16 hours on Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
 * A day excursion by boat to the Aegadian (Egadi) Islands

Buy

 * Busiate Trapanesi, the local pasta, can be bought in several variations and brands.
 * Salted capers (capperi al sale)
 * Sea salt (cristalli di sale marino) from Trapani.
 * Wine (vino) from the region, such as Grillo, Inzolia en Nero d’Avola

Eat
The kitchen of Trapani has undergone many foreign influences in particular from the Arabs. Meat and pasta are often replaced by fish and couscous. A local specialty is couscous Imperiale, steamed semolina with fish stock. The pesto alla Trapanese is a raw herb sauce of tomatoes, almonds, basil and garlic. The traditional shape of the pasta is busiate, a kind of twisted macaroni.

Budget
All these are around the port:



Sleep

 * Maccotta, Via del Argentieri +39 0923 23348. Attractive, clean and cheap at €30.
 * Maccotta, Via del Argentieri +39 0923 23348. Attractive, clean and cheap at €30.

Go next

 * Erice is well worth a visit. Regular buses go to this nearby precipitous hilltop town, but the best way to get there is by the new cable car. Wander around and soak in the atmosphere.
 * The Aegadian (Egadi) Islands (Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo) are very close and well worth a visit, with their wonderful beaches and bays.
 * San Vito lo Capo is a wonderful beach 40 km from Trapani, with white sand and crystal blue sea.
 * Visit the Greek temple, theatre, and ruins at Segesta on a day trip, or en route to Palermo.
 * The beaches of Scopello are not to be missed (featured at the end of the movie Ocean's Twelve).
 * The long sandy beaches of lido di Marausa and Trapani are within 9 km and 1 km of the town. There is a salt museum in Nubia on the way to Marausa, detailing the history of the salt pans in the area, and Trapani's important position on the 'Salt Road'.
 * Visit Alcamo, a town founded by Arabs, where you can admire an Arab fountain, the medieval castle and the remains of an ancient village in the Mount Bonifato, in the middle of a natural reserve.