Surroundings, Trapani

Bonagia (15km/9mi north of Trapani) is one of the few places in Sicily where tuna fishing is still carried on.

On Capo San Vito (40km/25mi north of Trapani) lies the charming fishing village of San Vito lo Capo (6m/20ft above sea-level, pop. 3,600). The church was built in the 17th century on the site of a 16th century fort, the square structure of which remains. To the east the holiday village of Cala Impiso has been laid out at the foot of the 809m/2,655ft high Monte Acci.

A new village has been built on the site of Gibellina which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1968. The buildings were erected from plans drawn by well known Italian architects. Numerous sculptures, some created by foreign artists adorn the houses.

Like many other places in the Belice valley in western Sicily, Partanna suffered badly in the 1968 earthquake. The main church in the town is the Chiesa Madre, the building of which began in 1579, although it was not consecrated until 1676. It is a columned basilica with very rich stucco decoration by Vincenzo Messina (1692-1729). This includes the sculptured group in the main apse depicting The Transfiguration of Christ, obviously inspired by that in the episcopal church in Mazara, and the decoration in the sacramental chapel in the right side aisle of the Sacred Heart between the Apostles surmounted by the Prophets and God the Father. The font bears the signature of Francesco Laurana and comes from the chapel in the castle; the latter was originally Norman, altered in the 14th, 15th and 17th centuries, and is now privately-owned.

LocationThe little country town of Gibellina, situated near Salemi, suffered such extensive earthquake damage in 1968 that the decision was made to rebuild Gibellina Nuova 20km/12mi further west.Well-known architects, sculptors and painters such as Vittorio Gregotti, Alessandro Mendini, Renato Guttuso, Pietro Consagra, Giuseppe Spagnulo, Alberto Burri, Mimmo Rotella and Andrea Cascella were engaged. From their plans developed a controversial drawing-board town, its character created by the most modern type of architecture and sculpture, which has very little in common with either Sicily or with the landscape and the way of life of the inhabitants.The town is entered by the gigantic "Porta di Ferra" which was designed by Pietro Consagra (1980, from nirosta steel). Next to the town hall stands the grotesque-looking church of "La grande Sfera" with a spherical choir and the concrete municipal tower by Alessandro Mendini.

CommunicationsSS 113 Palermo-Trapani; railroad station.LocationThis country town in northwest Sicily was, like Alcamo in the northeast, founded by the Arabs (the first part of the place-name is from the Arabic "qalat" = castle). It became famous as the site of the first victory of Giuseppe Garibaldi and his "army of a thousand" over the Bourbon troops. After his landing in Marsala (11th May 1860) and his proclamation as dictator of Sicily at Salemi (14th May), this battle took place on 15th May.

CommunicationsCoastal road SS 187 Palermo-Trapani; railroad station.LocationThis attractive harbor-town on the north coast was founded in ancient times as the port for the Elymian town of Segesta. An Aragonese fortress was erected by the harbor in the 14th century. The facade of the Chiesa Madre dates from 1726; inside there is a majolica statue of the Madonna.Every August the town is the host of the Sicilian song festival "Agosto Castellammarese".