About Erice and Valderice
The town of Erice is fortified and in its pretty, narrow streets the bustle of modern life is a world away, the atmosphere redolent of the past. As well as a Norman castle Erice has many churches and chapels and its town hall houses an archaeological museum. Historically, Erice was a religious centre to fertility gods, the Phoenician Astarte, the Greek Aphrodite and the Roman Venus.
A short drive from the foot of Erice will bring you to the small town of Valderice. Here you are ideally placed for visiting the stunning Zingaro Nature Reserve which is a conservation area consisting of 7 kilometres of stunning wild clifftop walks boasting over 700 varieties of trees and flowers and home to many rare species of birds. In the reserve are also remains of a Stone Age settlement.