Trapani seaside attractions, places to visit and suggested hotels

Last Updated: August 24, 2023

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Beautiful city

Trapani mistakenly considered only as a starting point for exploring other destinations, Trapani is a beautiful city rich in history and charm, which deserves to be discovered and visited.

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Trapani

Often ignored by tourists, who see it only as a stopover to reach other famous tourist destinations in western Sicily, Trapani is instead an authentic gem to discover.

Seen from above, the town has a unique sickle shape, almost as if cutting the sea. In the past, it was the beating heart of the maritime trade routes that connected Carthage to Venice, while today its busy port is a continuous comings and goings of tourists to the Egadi Islands, continental Italy or Tunisia.

To immerse yourself in the characteristic atmosphere of this elegant city, with its sumptuous baroque palaces and magnificent churches, lose yourself in the intricate streets of the old town and then enjoy a pleasant breeze along the romantic promenade.

The surroundings of the city are equally fascinating: gentle hills await you and the unusual and evocative view of the salt pans, extended like white desert dunes.

What to do in Trapani

The main streets of Trapani are the pedestrian Via Garibaldi and Corso Vittorio Emanuele, overlooked by the majestic Cathedral of San Lorenzo, which has a baroque and neoclassical style, and the Palazzo Senatorio.

Fish Market Square.

An interesting place to visit is the Fish Market Square: it may not be the most beautiful view of the city, but with its lively atmosphere and the hustle and bustle of sellers and customers, exerts a truly suggestive charm and will be an irresistible attraction for lovers of street photography.

From here, you can continue with a romantic walk along the promenade, passing by the Conca Bastion to the seventeenth-century Ligny Tower, which now houses the Museum of Prehistory and Marine Archaeology.

Sanctuary of the Annunciation.

At 4 km from the center is the Sanctuary dell’Annunziata, a fourteenth-century church where is kept the Madonna of Trapani, a sculpture attributed to the artist Nino Pisano.

Church of Purgatory.

The central Church of Purgatory houses the Mysteries, twenty wooden effigies of life-size depicting episodes of the Passion of Jesus.

The Mysteries are carried through the main streets of the city during the religious procession held between Good Friday and Saturday, a tradition that has lasted for over 400 years.

The celebrations of Holy Week in Trapani represent one of the oldest and longest religious events in Italy and are lived with fervor and passionate participation by the locals.

Saline di Trapani and Paceco Nature Reserve.

The nature reserve Saline di Trapani and Paceco is a charming and unspoilt place that houses a large area managed by WWF Italy and established in 1995. With its 1000 hectares, it is one of the largest protected areas in Sicily, divided equally between the municipalities of Trapani and Paceco.

Much of the reserve is made up of privately owned salt pans, where salt is extracted with centuries-old techniques by renowned companies. However, in addition to discovering this precious tradition linked to salt, the nature reserve Saline di Trapani and Paceco is also an important wetland, used by migratory birds along their trips from south to north and vice versa.

To visit the reserve of the salt pans of Trapani and Paceco, you can head to the mill Maria Stella, located in the village of Nubia, along the provincial road 21: here you will find the visitor center of the park, where you can receive valuable information and brochures. It is also possible to book guided tours.

Salt museum.

To enhance the ancient tradition of the salt pans of Trapani, a visit to the salt museum is a must. Located inside a beam, or an old farm-fortress of the seventeenth century with adjoining mill, in the town of Paceco, the salt museum was established by Alberto Culcasi. Today it is part of the route known as “the salt way” and is included in the official guide of the European Union of Mediterranean museums.

Visiting the salt museum, you will have the opportunity to discover all the secrets of the extraction of this precious mineral, from its antiquity to the present day, and once the museum path is over, you can walk inside a real salt pan, admiring the pools up close and immersing you in a unique environment.

The museum is located in Via Chiusa, near Nubia Paceco, in the province of Trapani, and is open every day of the week from 9:30 to 19:00.

Beautiful city
Trapani
What to do in Trapani
Beaches in and around Trapani
Where to sleep in Trapani

Beaches in and around Trapani

The historic center of Trapani is located on the tip of a peninsula, with the south side that extends to the port. Due to this configuration, there are few beaches in the city, and the only one worth mentioning is the Tramontana Wall Beach, located to the north. As the name suggests, it is located just outside the city walls and is a public beach with some buildings of the old town that overlook it. Being practically located in the city, during the summer it is very popular, especially by the locals.

Just outside the historic center, in the most modern area of the city, along the promenade Dante Alighieri, there is the important beach Piazza Vittorio Emanuele. Continuing along the seafront to the east, on the eastern outskirts of the city, there is the San Giuliano Beach, equipped with many beaches, bars and restaurants, but also offers a part of free beach. The fine sand and transparent water, with its gently sloping seabed, make San Giuliano Beach an ideal destination for families with children.

Where to sleep in Trapani

Depending on the type of holiday you have in mind, there are several alternatives to stay in Trapani. If you plan to combine beaches and cultural life, the ideal solution is to stay close to the old town. This location is also strategic for those who continue their journey by boat to the Egadi Islands or Tunisia, because here is the port of the city.

Choosing the new area of Trapani, you will be a little further away from museums and churches, but you will have access to many services, shops, pharmacies and supermarkets, as well as the possibility of taking advantage of the city beaches such as Vittorio Emanuele or San Giuliano.

Finally, opt for accommodation near the salt pans will offer you the opportunity to experience a unique environment, characterized by water, salt and spectacular reflections.

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