Once again this week, Europa in camping takes you to Italy to discover Erice, a charming little gem of Sicily. This enchanting Sicilian village perches on Mount San Giuliano, watching over the sea. What characterizes it are the majestic Cyclopean walls that enclose the triangular-shaped town that has preserved its medieval structure: a maze of cobbled streets among stone houses with historiated portals.
This village is one of the most beautiful in the region and in Italy, and boasts ancient origins, one of the most popular destinations for campers. Worth a visit is the Pepoli and Venus Castle from the Norman era, where the remains of the Temple of Venus Ericina can be found. From the manor starts a system of fortifications that include the Balio Towers and the Pepoli Tower, symbols of Erice. Among the stops in the center, don’t miss the Chiesa Matrice, dating back to 1314 and dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption, and then treat yourself to a stroll along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, dressed up for Christmas.
From December 7 to January 6, Erice is transformed into a place of wonders thanks to the “EricèNatale – The village of cribs”, a calendar full of events, concerts, initiatives and unfailing nativity scenes, especially in ceramics, a material of local tradition, true works of art. You will find plenty of them in the churches, among the alleys and in the store windows of the village.
Erice is considered one of the most beautiful destinations in Sicily to experience the magic of the Holidays, to admire the nativity scenes and to visit the Christmas market that combines the magic of the Holidays with the deep cultural tradition of the area.
EricèNatale – The village of nativity scenes
The Christmas markets take place in Piazza della Loggia and Piazzetta San Giuliano and will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Among the stalls you can find all the wonders of local crafts starting with ceramics: tiles, vases, jugs, plates, Saracen faces typical throughout Sicily, and many colorful trinkets. You will also find carts, puppets and marionettes of all sizes. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a refined gift, you can browse the stalls displaying jewelry in red coral, a raw material expertly crafted by skilled artisans who maintain this precious Trapani tradition. Also unmissable is the salt that comes directly from the famous salt pans of Trapani and Marsala.
Many stalls dedicated to Sicilian delicacies. Starting with the savory, unfailing busiate, perhaps to be paired with the famous Trapanese pesto ready in delicious little jars that contain all the aroma of basil and the sweetness of almonds. Canned tuna , bottarga (tuna roe), and ficazza (tuna sausage made from the back parts). And then the desserts, from cassata to cassatella, a kind of fried sweet ravioli served with a dusting of powdered sugar, and the unsurpassed delicacies of Sicily, cannoli.
Events and Santa Claus
Stop at Via Albertina degli Abati where the little ones can meet Santa Claus in his little house (from 3 to 8 p.m.). There is also a rich cultural program at the Gebel Hamed Theater where jazz and gospel concerts will enliven the evenings.
There will be no shortage of traditional music with the charming notes of the Sicilian itinerant pipers. Their melodies will accompany visitors along a route of more than 30 handcrafted nativity scenes and serve as the “soundtrack” to a magnificent living nativity scene on New Year’s Eve in Piazza della Loggia, a beautiful testament to Sicily’s vibrant nativity tradition and the ability of local communities to keep the memory of the Nativity alive.
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