Castle of Erice, magic and legend
Looking for a timeless, magical place that knows everything about legends and smells of immortality? The Castle of Erice (or of Venus) is the one and it is much more that that.
The castle is a norman building linked both to history and legend, factors which became a peculiarity of this fairy place. Every year, it attracts plenty of tourists who choose this corner of western Sicily for their holidays or for important events such as marriage.
Castle of Erice, a bit of history
The Castle of Erice is a building that dates back to the twelfth century and it was built on the remains of a Roman –Phoenician temple. In this temple, which was built on Mount Erice, the cult of the God of Fertility was the strongest and the most magical thing there could be during that time. To this precisely, we owe the name dedicated to Venus.
When the Normans built the castle, they used many of the remains of this temple permeating what was, essentially, a fortress of all the energy and mysticism that the ancient place of worship could have.
Nowadays, many of the archaeological finds are kept and exhibited in the Pepoli Museum of Trapani.
Castle of Erice, architecture
The fortress is characterized by strong and mighty walls and also by the Balio towers, which, however, are no longer standing there. The main defense technique of the fortress was the plunger, consisting of some holes in the wall through which boiling oil was poured on the enemies.
Castle of Erice, trivia
- The visit to the Castle is for free and on very clear days you can enjoy a breathtaking view. From up there, it is also possibile to get up to Ustica
- The myth of the cult of Venus Ericina is still present in local traditions, as in the feast of Maria Santissima di Custonaci
- The Regional Center of Refurbishment has eventually put the Castle of Erice into the regional map of the places of identity and memory
- For those wishing to get married with a civil ceremony, it is possible to ask the Municipality of Erice for Castle’s availability