A trip to Trapani – 2nd May

 

We are sad to leave Gandolo/Momo, but we need to get to Trapani to collect our car. We also wanted to visit Erice, and to see the old centre of Trapani, where Pip had stayed for a couple of days.

Trapani is such a contrast to Palermo, clean streets, well cared for buildings, a large pedestrian zone in the old city and looking prosperous. Life here is much quieter than in Palermo as well, but the motocicli are still as noisy.

We had arrived too early to check in so Mike and I went for a stroll out to the Torre at the end of the isthmus, then back through the old city, along the pedestrain only streets and foreshore, admiring the many palaces, churches, shops and restaurants. The streets are marble slabs, with marble footpaths, plants in big pots in front of shops, and even the cafe chairs and tables are more resort style than slightly grubby street style.

 

As is usual in Sicily, Trapani has had a chequered history, beginning with the original founders who were Sicanian, mixed with Elyminians (remember, from Troy), then the usual history of Phoenician, Carthaginian, Roman, Norman, Sicilian and Spanish. Although the facades are mostly Baroque, from the seafront, the town looks quite Arabic.

We end our day having dinner in the pedestrian zone at a restaurant which specialises in local cuisine. I had the couscous seafood soup, such a different way to eat couscous and Mike had the spaghetti with tuna eggs, a salty, tasty meal. After, we took a walk along the seafront to admire the lights of the town.