Trapani

Poking its way out of Sicily’s extreme western edge on its very own pancake-flat peninsula of land, the town of Trapani glitters in hues of white and red in the Italian sun, its shimmering rays bouncing between its somewhat haphazard streets, Vespa-peppered parking plots and seaside condominiums. But there’s nothing confusing about Trapani’s historic heart, with that ubiquitous Latinate Basilica and wealth of baroque palaces. In fact, the curiosities of this town await on its peripheries; between the craggy chambers of the Mangiapane Grottos, the brilliant salt ponds of the Museo delle Saline, and the panoramic views from Erice—connected with below by a breath-taking electric cable car. There are beaches too, and many Trapani tour guides point visitors to the bustling strips of San Giuliano, or the more off-the-beaten-track sands of pint-sized San Vito Lo Capo to the north. What’s more, the pizzas here are to die for, the local wines aplenty, and the seafood served up in the joints of the harbour hailed as some of the freshest on the entire island!