Holiday Farm La Concordia - Trapani
La Concordia holiday farm was born from the restoration of an old country holding, located i... Read more »
Favignana and the Aegadian islands, three pearls in the sea
Facing Trapani, so close you think you could touch them, the Egadi islands stand out against ... Read more »
The Isle of Motya, discovering Marsala's forebears
Founded by the Phoenicians in the 8th century BC, Motya (or Mothia, today Mozia), thanks to i... Read more »
Visiting MEMS, Erice’s “network museum” of churches on the “Lord’s Mountain”
On the initiative of the Trapani Diocese, the parish of Erice decided to fully share with all... Read more »
Erice's Norman Castle, once the Temple of Venus
The Norman Castle of Erice (better known as the Castle of Venus) stands where once stood the Temple-shrine to the goddess Venus (before that, the same deity was called and worshiped as Tanit, Astarte, Aphrodite). It was the fulcrum of a defense system that included the Balio towers. A visit within its imposing defensive walls, on the edge of a sharp cliff, gives strong impressions, as it once happened to the sailors on a visit to the beautiful priestesses of Venus.
Erice's origins - "Iruka" to the Elymians, "Erech" to the Carthaginians, "Eryx" to the Greeks and Romans - unquestionably an Elymian city, probably date back to the Sicanians and are forever indissolubly tied to worship of the goddess: back before it was dedicated by the Phoenicians to the goddess Astarte, that which was the "thèmenos", the sanctuary of Aphrodite, the temple of Venus Ericina, had already been the place of the goddess of love. A place that would have enticed populations from every part of the Mediterranean to this summit, and where, according to Diodoro Siculo, Erice, son of Bute, one of Jason's Argonauts, and of Aphrodite herself, erected a temple dedicated to his mother and founded the city.
Through time, the worship of Venus Ericina, to whom passing sailors were particularly devoted, thanks also to the incredibly beautiful "Ierodule" - young, sacred prostitutes of the goddess who was the giver of voluptuousness, created together with her fame and her wealth. Tucidide refers to "the gifts offered to the Goddess, amphorae, goblets and a wealth of household effects" from pilgrims, and Didodoro Siculo attributed to Daedalus, having escaped from Crete, the creation of a golden ram dedicated to Aphrodite. In any case, it's clear that a place like Erice, in a geographic location so privileged for its incredibly wide visual, what's more efficiently fortified and protected, had to have assumed the power that the interests of the populations that followed attributed to the sanctuary-fortress.
Among these were the Romans, who, having conquered the Carthaginians, "took possession" of the place and of the worship of the Venus - by then diffused in many Mediterranean cities - rebuilt the temple atop the ruins left by the war, bringing Erice back to its ancient splendour, and erected in Rome, first, a small temple on the Capitoline Hill and, in 181 BC, a larger one at Porta Collina, both dedicated to the Ericene goddess. The consideration of the Empire for Erice was such to establish the placement, in order to protect the Ericine "thémenos", of a city and its territory that would be cited by Virgil who wrote of Aeneas stopping in these places and wanting to bury his father Anchises near the sanctuary, before sailing to Lazio where he founded Rome: this legend therefore united the Eliminain and Roman "kinship", both descendants of Venus, mother of both Aeneas and Erice...
Governors, magistrates, high military figures offered gifts to her, contributing and enriching the temple treasure, diminishing the marine traffic and with that Sicily's economic solidity, the worship already impoverished by the fact that that it was practised in what had become a military centre, was vanquished to the advancement of Catholicism.
After the Roman period, that of maximum splendour, followed Byzantines, Saracens - with these Gebel al Hamid - and Normans: Ruggero d'Altavilla named the village and the territory Monte San Giuliano, in honour of the Saint that had intervened, on horseback with a pack of dogs, fortifying his soldiers against the Arabs. Arabs who, with regret, left the fortress, and above all the women of Venus: "may Allah the merciful make them slaves of the Muslims" Ibn Giubayr wrote in 1185.
Norman Castle
On the remains of the sanctuary, the Normans built their castle, fulcrum of a defensive system that included the Balio towers - "Bajulo" the name of the magistrate who represented the King and resided with his court in the castle - which constituted the brought-about fortifications. The castle, built on the cliff of the "thèmenos" in the 17th century, was connected to the lower floor of the towers by a drawbridge, then substituted by the flight of steps that still today is travelled to reach it. In its interior were found - and also, unfortunately, lost - architectural elements of the historical course, essentially able to be attributed to the Medieval reconstruction of the fortress, in which also fragments of the ancient sanctuary were reused - as well as to the rebuilding of the temple in Roman times.
The garden and Balio towers
After the definitive decline of the role of the castle's fortress, only ruins of the ancient Norman towers remained and the plain on which the Carthaginians had built the initial fortifications was abandoned to negligence. At the end of 19th century, Count Agostino Pepoli drew up an agreement with the City Council that reclaimed at his expense the entire area, and rebuilt the towers which would remain his property. The result of the initiative of the wealthy and cultured patron was the rebuilding of the pentagonal towers, destroyed in the 15th century, and of the crenellated courtyard protecting the internal area, as well as the realisation of the Balio public "English" garden. This, together with the small tower that Pepoli had built on the North-west slope of the castle cliff - today, after years of abandonment, awaiting restoration and appointed to the new its function of "Peace Observatory" - is unquestionably one of the symbols of Erice.
TIME, DAY AND COSTS
From January 1st until last Sunday in March and from the last Monday in October to December 31st: weekdays only upon reservation by telephone; Saturday and holidays: from 10 am to 4 pm.
From the last Monday in March until May 31st: daily from 10 am to 6 pm. From June 1st until July 14th: daily from 10 am to 7 pm.
From July 15th until September 14th: daily from 10 am to 8 pm.
From September 15th until last Sunday in October: daily from 10 am to 7 pm.
Entrance fees: Adults 3.00€, reduced 1.50€.
Info line: +39.366.6712832
Clicking on the thumbnails you can view the images in detail. All images are freely taken from the web. On recommendation, we will remove images with copyright
Clicking on a thumbnail you can see the video in detail. All videos are freely taken from the web (youtube.com). On recommendation, we will remove the link to the video with copyright.
Amateur documentary on Erice's Norman Castle
Amateur documentary on Erice's Norman Castle
Amateur documentary on Erice's Norman Castle
Further information
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On holiday in Erice, discover what awaits you
TrapaniGate.it is also a guide to the best location in Trapani, with lots of useful information on the history, monuments, routes, etc.. Here you can find all the tips on what to see and what to do in Erice, photos and videos, information on the distance from Trapani airport, etc..
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Erice, myth and history: one of the most beautiful and picturesque villages throughout Italy
At the end of the winding road that from Trapani climbs the slopes of Mount San Giuliano, among breathtaking views that suddenly appear behind the bends, you will reached the... Read more »
Erice's Norman Castle, once the Temple of Venus
The Norman Castle of Erice (better known as the Castle of Venus) stands where once stood the Temple-shrine to the goddess Venus (before that, the same deity was called and worshiped... Read more »
Erice: ATTRACTIONS
Choose where to sleep in Erice, many solutions for your holiday in Sicily
TrapaniGate.it offers you a selection of the best accommodation, hotels, bed and breakfast, residence, bed & breakfasts, holiday house, etc.. Thanks to the interactive map on the right you can refine your search by specifying the type of interest. After checking the availability you can use the online booking system for confirmation, without making any payment (credit card details as a guarantee). For some accommodation, you can send a non binding request for information.
ACCOMMODATIONS IN Erice
NOTE: For all the details on the accommodation of interest, click on "continue". Within the dedicated page, you can check availability and make a reservation
Brezza di Grecale - Holiday Lettings - ***Via Lungomare Dante Alighieri, 34 - Casasanta (91016) Erice - view on the map
Brezza di Grecale residence is located in front of San Giuliano beach, just few minutes away from Trapani historical centre and from the cable way station to Erice top....
Further information »ACCOMMODATION IN TRAPANI
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Erice's Norman Castle, once the Temple of Venus on the map
Erice's Norman Castle, once the Temple of Venus
Events and activities
Erice's Medieval Pageant
Erice - da Monday, August 27, 2012 a Sunday, September 02, 2012
In the last week in August Erice celebrates its holy patroness "Our Lady of Custonaci". The tradition involves the setting up of votive altars in Erice's typical courtyards, the procession of... Read more »
Cous Cous Fest 2012
San Vito Lo Capo - da Tuesday, September 25, 2012 a Sunday, September 30, 2012
In 2012 the Cous Cous Fest celebrates fifteen years “Making Couscous, not War”. It is a culinary contest for countries in the Euro-Mediterranean area and beyond, taking a cue from the... Read more »
How to get around
SHUTTLES TO/FROM AIRPORT
Fill in the following fields and send the request to get information on or to book the transfer service to/from the airport.The arranged, authorized companies will offer you their best deal.
BUSES
Get to Trapani (historic centre and harbour), Marsala, Palermo travelling by the following bus service companies: AST, Salemi, Lumia and Terravision.
Travel Blog
About Trapani Airport - Article from the site avionews.it
Thursday, August 25, 2011
AVIONEWS - WAPANews Date: 25-Aug-2011 15:53Category: AirportsNATO goes to war and the Sicilians pay: the emblematic case of the airport of TrapaniRome, Italy - The... Read more »
The traffic data for the month of July 2011
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
In July 2011, the average decline of passenger movements stabilizes at around -23% and -24%. The statistics confirm the trend related to the necessary restrictions imposed... Read more »
Weather forecast in Erice
| Min | Max | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon |  | 59° F | 72° F | |
| Tue | | 59° F | 70° F | |
| Wed |  | 61° F | 70° F |
Info & customer care
+ 39 0923 1941518
from monday to friday dalle 09:00 alle 18:00
