San Vito lo Capo and Western Sicily are a treasure chest to discover. To find all the gems of this land, get advice from real local experts! We present our travel itinerary to allow you to enjoy the beauty of this extraordinary territory to the fullest.
San Vito Lo Capo
The Maldives of Sicily.
A white beach of fine sand overlooks the Gulf of San Vito with a crystal clear sea. San Vito lo Capo is located at the extreme northern tip of the northern coast of the province of Trapani, guarded by the grandeur of Monte Monaco. The small town welcomes tourists and residents in a euphoric mixture of natural beauty and joy.
In addition to spending your holidays on the renowned candid beach, you can visit some symbolic places of this jewel of the sea: the beauty of the lighthouse in the distance at sunset is unmissable, and the Tonnara del Secco will enchant you with its ancient history and the charm of distant eras.
The real protagonist of this landscape is the sea. Take advantage of the many boat trips to explore the coast to the Scopello stacks, or enjoy the underwater world with diving and snorkeling.
A special mention goes to the Caves of San Vito lo Capo. Due to its particular geological origin, this part of the coast is dotted with fascinating terrestrial caves, considered true natural monuments and of significant historical importance for the finds discovered inside them. Among the most famous we mention the Grotta dell’Uzzo in the Zingaro Reserve, inhabited by Homo sapiens already in the Mesolithic. The Grotta dei Cavalli, on the other hand, is located in Cala Mancina, near the lighthouse of San Vito lo Capo, renowned for its rock paintings dating back to the Neolithic. Suggestive for their prehistoric engravings are also the Isidda Caves, the Ciaraveddi Cave and the Racchio Cave near Makari.
Makari
An enchanted landscape to live by land and sea.
If you love nature, you can't miss the spectacle of Makari Bay, in the municipality of San Vito lo Capo. This (along with other exceptional views of the area) has been chosen as the location for films and TV series aired on national TV and international online platforms. The beauty that emanates from the Bay dominated by Mount Cofano: an arch of coast that houses small pebble beaches (such as Cala Bue Marino) together with the sandy beach of Baia Santa Margherita. Here the pristine and transparent sea is home to animal and plant species that you will enjoy discovering wearing a mask and tube!
Do you want to take a walk? Why not try the panoramic trek to admire the Bay from above? Especially if you travel in spring and autumn, we advise you not to miss the routes to explore with specialized guides to discover the natural beauty of the surroundings. Among all, the Scaletta Maruzza path runs along an ancient mule track along the Gulf of Makari offering suggestive views of the bay from above. Dotted with stone pavements, walls and steps, it is the architectural testimony of the ancient streets used by the local population to cross the territory from one point to another. Not to be missed.
Zingaro nature reserve
Unspoiled nature to be preserved with love.
It has been defined as a corner of paradise, untouched by human activity and habitat of protected animal and plant species. The Zingaro Nature Reserve is an area of the Trapani coast between San Vito lo Capo and Castellammare del Golfo. The establishment of the Nature Reserve took place thanks to a popular mobilization that in the 80s through an environmental march allowed this stretch of coast to remain intact and untouched by urban planning interventions that wanted to connect the two neighboring municipalities with a provincial road, definitively destroying the charm of this corner of the world.
Today inside the Reserve it is possible to practice trekking, recommended in spring and autumn. Inside the protected area, among the lush forests of Palma Nana, hide refuges for adventurers such as Borgo Cusenza, an ancient garrison consisting of a few shepherds' houses where the inhabitants received travelers and offered them rest and food to resume the journey along the coast. Today bivouacs are home to tourists and explorers during their naturalistic explorations.
The summer attraction preferred by tourists is certainly a visit to the sea coves of the reserve. There are a total of 7 beaches that embellish the coast with white pebbles and make the blue of the sea shine. The Reserve can be accessed from both San Vito lo Capo and Castellammare del Golfo. We recommend visiting Cala Tonnarella dell’Uzzo and Cala Marinella, the first two starting from the entrance from San Vito lo Capo (the entire reserve is too extensive to visit the 7 coves on the same day!). Remember to bring plenty of water and sunscreen with you to enjoy a carefree adventure and dive into the mirrored blue waters of the Reserve.
Scopello
The seaside village between legends and traps.
Legend has it that the beauty of the bay of Scopello, in the municipality of Castellammare del Golfo, inspired the poet Homer in writing the Odyssey. In the last stop towards Ithaca, Ulysses arrives on the so-called Feaci Island. It is said that the description of the places can refer to the peculiarity of the landscapes of Scopello, true jewels of the Trapani coast.
Here, tall stacks that give their name to this corner of Sicily (Skopelos in Greek means “rock”) stand out a few meters from the coast and become a setting for diving and snorkeling activities. Dominating the bay is the beauty of an ancient tuna trap of the thirteenth century, brought to new to tell the tradition of tuna fishing that for centuries has distinguished the economy and culture of the place.
Near the bay there are other suggestive sea views to swim and enjoy the warm Sicilian sun: Cala Mazzo di Sciacca, Cala Baialuce, Cala dell’Ovo, Cala Mosca, all to explore and discover like real adventurers.
In addition to the bay, the very small village of Scopello develops a short distance from the sea around the paved square and an eighteenth-century Sicilian Baglio. Here, restaurants, shops and small shops welcome you to discover a slow lifestyle, made of taste, artisan excellence and love for the sea
Castellammare del Golfo
Impregnable stronghold guardian of history and beauty.
Castellammare del Golfo is a seaside resort fascinating for its morphology and history. Located on the border with the Municipality of San Vito Lo Capo and inextricably linked to Segesta, Castellammare represented the port of this city famous for archaeological evidence of the Greek age. Conquered by the Arabs in 800 AD, it was in this period that the first part of the Castle that gives its name to the city (later completed by the Normans) was built.
Among the main attractions of the place, the Castello a Mare is the most representative of history, which has made it the protagonist of the Trapani coast. But the charm of this city is enclosed in the atmosphere of the narrow streets of the center, which climb and descend in continuity until you reach the characteristic marina, of commendable beauty and nerve center of summer nightlife.
