Valderice
Valderice, situated on a hill below mount Erice and immersed in a lush greenery, is surrounded by sinuous hills, crystal clear waters, vast wooded areas and unspoilt landscapes, which make it one of the most appreciated holiday resorts in the province of Trapani, especially in summer. It has several green areas, areas of great speleological and naturalistic interest, cliffs and beautiful beaches. Its numerous bagli (the typical Sicilian rural buildings with a spacious courtyard) and villas (some of which can be visited), are evidences of the ancient rural civilization. At the entrance of the town is located the Arco del Cavaliere, recently restored: here, during the procession of the Madonna di Custonaci, faithfuls stopped before resuming their journey towards Erice (as reported in old documents dating back to the 16th century). The Molino (Mill) Excelsior, in the center of the town, is a clear example of industrial archaeology: it was a mill, used for grinding wheat, active until the 1960s: today it is the seat of important cultural and wine and food exhibitions. Furthermore, the seventeenth-century Tonnara (Tuna-fishing factory) of Bonagia, with its tower, worth a visit. It was part of the coastal defensive system and today it hosts the Museo della Tonnara (Tunny Factory Museum), that preserves boats, tools and nets used for tuna fishing, as well as other tools linked to the “mattanza (the traditional way in which tuna fishing was conducted)”.
