Villas in the west of Sicily >>
Stepping westward from Cefalu and Palermo, Sicily’s mountainous hinterland mellows into the large fertile plain of Val di Mazara, which is carpeted with vineyards and olive groves.
The western point of the island’s triangle is dotted with fascinating towns (Erice, Trapani, Marsala and Sciacca), some of the best preserved Greek temples (Segesta, Selinunte and the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento) to be found anywhere in the Mediterranean, glorious sandy beaches and a history that reads like a script from the most eventful of soap operas!
Nature, food and wine
From the delightful coastline of Scopello and Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve, dotted with small pebbly beaches, one continues round the north-western point of Sicily to the vast expanse of white sand of San Vito Lo Capo, possibly the nicest beach in Sicily.
Passing south down the west coast between Trapani and Marsala, with the Egadi Islands lying just out to sea, one comes to the fascinating historic salt-pans, the Stagnone lagoon with its little archipelago and the Carthaginian island of Mozia, and on to the large fishing port of Mazara del Vallo.
From here the coastline softens into a long series (about 150km) of sandy beaches, such as those flanking the archaeological site of Selinunte, Porto Palo di Menfi and Eracela Minoa that continue all the way down to Agrigento, halfway along the south coast. One of the few interruptions to the sandy beaches are the fascinating white chalk cliffs known as La Scala dei Turchi.
Inland, the scenery is dominated by vast expanses of vineyards and olive groves. Indeed, some of Sicily's best wines and olive oils are produced in this corner of the island.
Staying on a gastronomic theme, fish dishes reign supreme: two of Italy's largest fishing fleets work out of Mazara del Vallo and Sciacca, ensuring that the freshest of fish is always on the menu!
Meanwhile, the Egadi Islands continue their age-old tradition of the Mattanza, an annual Spring tuna cull, and this tasty, meaty fish is cooked in myriad mouth-watering ways. North African influences - Tunis is closer than Rome - can be found in the local speciality of fish coucous.
History and monuments
The Carthaginians landed in Sicily in the 8th century BC and set up colonies at Mozia (or Mothya) (one of the tiny islands in the Stagnone lagoon), Marsala and Erice (as well as Palermo and Solunto).
With the spread of Magna Graecia, some of the island's most important Greek colonies were founded in Agrigento, Selinunte and Segesta.
The Romans ousted the Greeks in the east and then fought for control of Sicily against Carthage. On of the last acts of the First Punic War was a naval battle off the Egadi Islands, won by Rome. Marsala quickly became an important strategic outpost of the Roman Empire
Western Sicily's vicinity to North Africa had always made it an important area for trade, and the Arabs, who invaded in the early 9th century AD, soon developed Marsala and Mazara del Vallo into bustling commercial ports.
Palermo became the centre of Arabic power on the island and the was significantly enlarged and improved under their rule.
The 18th century saw the arrival of English merchants, such as Woodhouse, Ingham and the Whittakers, who transformed the local Marsala wine into an international commodity.
Some 80 years later, in 1860, Garibaldi, the Hero of the Two Worlds, arrived in Marsala with his 1,000 men to begin the Unification of italy, or Risorgimento.
Villas in the west of Sicily >>