Historic places in Erice

38 historic buildings, sites and memorials in Erice.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

See
Annunciation or Carmine Church
Chiesa dell'Annunziata o del Carmine
Founded in 1423 by Don Bernardo Militari in his palace, this church is a rare example of private ecclesiastical architecture in Sicily. It blends Gothic and Renaissance styles with vibrant local Baroque touches. It was historically attached to a Carmelite convent, founded in 1423. The adjoining convent buildings are now used as a hotel.
Eat
Antica Pasticceria da Michele
Historic pastry shop and bar with outdoor tables. Great for a morning cappuccino and pastry, plus panini and light snacks all day.
Do
Balio Gardens
Giardino del Balio
Public gardens near the Castle of Venus, with terraces, fountains, and Mediterranean plants. Landscaped in the 1870s by Count Pepoli, they are now part of the Grandi Giardini Italiani network. Offers panoramic views over Trapani and the sea.
Open dailyFree
See
Balio Towers
Torri del Balio
Group of medieval towers that once guarded the castle approach and housed royal officials. Overlooks the coastline and Balio Gardens.
Exterior open; towers included in Erice Card ticketIncluded in the Erice Card
Do
Barone di Serramarrocco
A winery producing Erice DOC wines on the historic lands of a 17th-century barony. Tastings by special arrangement.
Do
CAI 603 – Pepoli Turret Trail
Sentiero Torretta Pepoli
2.7-km shaded loop with views of the Castle of Venus and wooded terrain. Good for birdwatching and photography.
Always openFree
Drink
Caffè del Balio
Charming seasonal café set in the Balio Gardens, perfect for a granita or cold drink on a hot day. The historical building offers shaded outdoor tables and panoramic views over the surrounding countryside. A peaceful spot to rest and refresh in summer.
See
Castle of Venus
Castello di Venere
12th-century Norman castle built over the ancient Temple of Venus Erycina. Set on a cliff with wide views over the coast and valleys.
Apr–May & Oct: 10:00–18:00; Jun–Sep: 10:00–19:00 (Aug until 20:00)Included in the Erice Card
See
Chiaramontan Aqueduct
Acquedotto chiaramontano
Historic Difali fountain that was part of a medieval aqueduct constructed by the Chiaramonte family to convey water to Trapani.
Accessible at all timesFree
See
Church of Saint Francis of Assisi
Chiesa di San Francesco
Founded in 1364 by Count Francesco Ventimiglia in his former palace, this active church—once part of a major Franciscan complex—features a single nave and a Renaissance-style vestibule added in the early 20th century.
See
Church of Saint Francis of Paola
Chiesa di San Francesco di Paola
A single-nave church dedicated to Saint Francis of Paola, a town in Calabria. The building served as a hospital chapel until the 19th century, associated with a hospital once located in the adjacent Majorana Soldier Palace.
See
Church of Saint Hippolytus
Chiesa di Sant'Ippolito
A ruined medieval church which preserves fragments of a medieval fresco cycle and incorporates the cave Oratory of Saint Gregory, associated with earlier eremitic traditions.
See
Church of Saint Isidore
Chiesa di Sant'Isidoro
Small sanctuary near the birthplace of Blessed Luigi Rabatà, historically linked to farming communities.
Included in the Erice Card
See
Church of Saint Mary Magdalene
Chiesa di Santa Maria Maddalena
Ruined medieval church of probable Norman origin, formerly decorated with a notable cycle of 12th-century frescoes now preserved in the Church of San Giovanni Battista.
See
Church of Saint Mary Major
Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore
One of the three medieval churches of the Tre Chiese route, representing the network of rural religious foundations that once occupied the slopes of Monte Erice.
See
Church of Saint Peter
Chiesa di San Pietro
Built in 1365 and rebuilt in 1610 in Baroque style; connected by an arch to the Monastery of the Poor Clares
See
Church of Santa Teresa
Chiesa di Santa Teresa
Moved to its current site around 1828–1830, this former hospital chapel has a single nave and houses a revered statue of its patron saint, central to a popular annual procession still celebrated in Erice and nearby areas. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries the adjoining monastery was converted for civic use.
See
Dovecote
Stone dovecote traditionally associated with the Sacred Doves of Eryx, birds linked to the ancient cult of Venus Erycina.
See
Elymian-Punic Walls
Mura Ciclopiche Elimo-Puniche
Ancient walls built from the 8th century BCE by the Elymians, later expanded by Punic and medieval builders.
Accessible at all timesFree
See
Eugene Wigner Institute
Convento di San Francesco
Former Franciscan convent founded in 1364 by Count Francesco Ventimiglia and expanded over the following centuries. After briefly serving as a hospital, the historic complex was repurposed as the Eugene Wigner Institute, part of the Ettore Majorana Foundation, and now hosts scientific conferences and research activities. The atmospheric spaces are also used for art exhibitions, concerts, and cultural performances.
Included in the Erice Card
See
Former Hotel Igea
Ex Hotel Igea
Early 20th-century Liberty-style (Art Nouveau) building that once served as Erice’s grand hotel during the interwar tourism boom. The historic structure is now reused as residential accommodation for enrolled students of the local hospitality school and not as a public hotel.
Free (Exterior visible)
See
Isidor I. Rabi Institute
Monastery of the Poor Clares
An administrative and teaching complex of the Ettore Majorana Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture, housed in the former monastery of the Poor Clares
See
Laudicina House
Casa Laudicina
Overlooking the Balio Gardens, this imposing former residence of Trapani mayor Domenico Laudicina blends two historic houses around a courtyard, featuring ornate plasterwork with Art Deco touches.
Free (Exterior visible)
See
Monastery and Church of Saint Charles
Monastero e Chiesa di San Carlo
Founded in 1617 as a home for orphaned girls, this former convent complex became known for its confectionery tradition, including almond sweets such as pasta reale. Following recent restoration, parts of the historic site are now reused for education and residential accommodation for enrolled pupils of the local hospitality school (not open to visitors).
See
Monastery of the Most Holy Saviour (Ruins)
Monastero del Santissimo Salvatore
Ruin of a Benedictine monastery built over a medieval noble residence.
Included in the Erice Card
See
Necropolis of Piano delle Forche
A Punic burial site just outside the ancient fortification walls.
See
Palazzo Burgarella
Burgarella Palace
Late-19th-century palazzo of the Burgarella family, whose wealth came from the salt and tuna industries. Family patriarch Agostino Burgarella Ajola established the famous salt works of Aden and developed commercial interests extending from Sicily to North Africa and the Red Sea.
Free (Exterior visible)
See
Palazzo La Porta
La Porta Palace
A 17th–18th-century patrician residence built at the height of the La Porta family’s prominence. The austere Baroque façade is constructed from large squared blocks of tuff, with simple windows and elegant projecting balconies.
Free (Exterior visible)
See
Palazzo Platamone
Platamone Palace
One of 17th-century Erice’s largest and best-preserved patrician homes, this palace—once owned by the Barbier-Stabile family and later by the Platamone marquises—features dual façades and spacious upper-level living quarters above service rooms.
Free (Exterior visible)
Do
Palazzo Sales
former Monastery of Santa Teresa
Founded as the Monastery of Santa Teresa, this historic complex now houses Erice’s Officucina culinary laboratories — purpose-built teaching kitchens within the former monastery used for training, food innovation projects, and cooking events, some open to the public.
See
Palma Savalli House
Casa Palma Savalli
A historic house with a notable Baroque portal, now in poor repair. It was once home to the Palma Savalli family, prominent in the city’s political and economic life in the late 16th and 17th centuries.
Free (Exterior visible)
Buy
Pasticceria Maria Grammatico
Maria Grammatico pastry shop
Historic pastry shop founded by Maria Grammatico, known for traditional almond sweets and genovesi. Offers takeaway, a small café area, and cooking classes.
See
Pool of Apollo
Piscina di Apollo
Ancient spring and rock-cut pool traditionally associated with the worship of Apollo and later linked to the medieval Jewish community of Erice.
Free
Do
Sacred Wood of Erice
Bosco Sacro di Erice
Historic woodland on Monte Erice associated with the ancient cult of Venus Erycina. The area preserves fragments of native forest and forms part of ongoing ecological conservation and restoration initiatives.
Accessible at all timesFree
See
Sanctuary of Demeter
Ancient sanctuary dedicated to Demeter, with views over Bonagia and the coastline.
Do
Scuola di Arte Culinaria Maria Grammatico
Maria Grammatico pastry school
Traditional pastry school run by renowned Erice-born pastry chef Maria Grammatico, known for preserving the town’s convent-based almond sweet traditions. The school offers short public classes and demonstrations focused on local specialities such as pasta reale di Erice and other historic Sicilian pastries.
See
Temple of Venus Erycina
Archaeological remains of the ancient sanctuary of Venus Erycina.
See
Wall of Daedalus
Ancient fortification wall traditionally associated with the mythical builder Daedalus.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Erice (CC BY-SA 4.0).