★ 22 Monte Erice

Prehistory
Archaeological investigations have identified several prehistoric cave sites on and around Monte Erice, including Grotta del Maltese, Grotta di San Francesco, Grotta Emiliana, Grotta Polifemo, and Grotta Martogna. These sites preserve evidence of human occupation during the Upper Paleolithic (Epigravettian period).
Excavations at Grotta del Maltese have yielded lithic industries and faunal remains, along with a radiocarbon date of approximately 9300 BP (c. 8000 BC calibrated), indicating activity at the end of the Pleistocene and the beginning of the Holocene.
Faunal and malacological evidence indicates that prehistoric inhabitants exploited both terrestrial and marine resources, including large mammals such as deer and coastal shellfish, suggesting connections between upland and coastal environments.

Historical names

The mountain has borne different names throughout its history, reflecting the cultures that ruled Sicily. It has long been a place of religious devotion, from the sanctuary of Venus in antiquity to Islamic and Christian traditions in later centuries.

Eryx — In classical antiquity, both the mountain and the settlement on its summit were known as Eryx (Greek: Ἔρυξ, Latin: Eryx), named after the mythical Elymian king and hero of the same name. Ancient authors such as Strabo and Diodorus Siculus describe the site as the location of the sanctuary of Venus Erycina, which gave the mountain and city renown in the Greco-Roman world.
Monte San Giuliano — In 1117, under Norman rule, the mountain was renamed Monte San Giuliano in honour of Saint Julian. This name remained in official use for centuries, until replaced in the 20th century.
Gebel Hamed — Medieval Arabic sources referred to the mountain as Gabel Hâmid. The 12th-century traveller and…

Monte Erice rises as an isolated limestone massif on the western edge of Sicily. Its base measures roughly 15 miles (24 km) in circumference, and its slopes descend steeply toward the coastal plain of Trapani and the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The summit is occupied by Erice, enclosed within its ancient fortifications. To the west, the curtain wall with 16 remaining towers and three main gates—Porta Trapani, Porta del Carmine, and Porta Spada—once protected the city and sanctuary.
Around the lower slopes lie a number of rural hamlets and frazioni including Casa Santa, Ballata, Lenzi, Napola, Pizzolungo, and Rigaletta. Parts of the surrounding municipalities of Trapani, Valderice, and Paceco also extend onto the foothills of Monte Erice.

Geology
The mountain consists largely of stratified limestone, compact and dense with occasional flint inclusions. At the base are horizontal beds of white carbonate rock streaked with manganese oxide, while higher layers include tuff and bluish marls containing marine fossils.
Numerous caves have formed in the calcareous mass. Some, such as the Grotta dell’Armonia, contain stalactites; others, including the Grotta del Gigante at Portaspra and the Grotta dei Ciclopi at Martogna, were historically associated with legends of giants but have also yielded palaeontological and prehistoric remains. Additional sites such as the Grotta di Polifemo near Pizzolungo and the Grotta Emiliana preserve evidence of past habitation.

Hydrology
Monte Erice is supplied by perennial and seasonal springs, which historically fed troughs and basins used by residents and herders. These arise from rainfall and snowmelt filtering through the limestone strata before re-emerging at impermeable layers.
Monte Erice’s springs historically supplied water not only to the…

Monte Erice is a destination for hiking, outdoor sports, and cultural tourism. The Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) maintains four marked trails connecting the summit with forests, chapels, and panoramic overlooks:

Sentiero di Sant’Anna (CAI 601) – A 5.5 km descent from Porta Trapani to the Sant’Anna Sanctuary, ending near the lower Trapani–Erice Cable Car station.
Sentiero Porta Castellammare – Tre Chiese (CAI 602) – A 4.5 km scenic loop past wild orchids, coastal viewpoints, and rural chapels.
Sentiero Torretta Pepoli (CAI 603) – A 2.7 km woodland path through the Bosco Sacro di Erice, with views of the Castle of Venus and Balio Towers.
Sentiero Demanio Forestale San Matteo (CAI 604) – A 6.9 km moderate trail to the Sicilian Forestry Corps Museum, passing pine forests and medieval sites.
Monte Erice is also accessible via the Trapani–Erice Cable Car, which connects Trapani with the summit and provides transport to the mountain for visitors wishing to hike downhill via the marked CAI trails.
The slopes and surrounding foothills of Monte Erice also lie within the historic Val di Mazara wine region, an area traditionally associated with viticulture in western Sicily. Vineyards on the lower elevations reflect the cooler conditions and maritime influences typical of this part of the island.
Since 1954, the Cronoscalata Monte Erice hill climb motor race has taken place annually on its slopes.
On the lower slopes, the Martogna pine forest hosts Parco Avventura Erice, an adventure park with rope courses, suspension bridges, and climbing elements.