Its main attraction is, of course, the white sand beach, which regularly gets into various ratings. But the Mediterranean atmosphere of San Vito, its white houses, the many cultural monuments scattered around, the richness of the local nature and the climate, which remains mild even in winter, make this place ideal for those who want to relax by the sea and at the same time learn more about the beauties of this land.

The first settlement arose here around the 13th century. as an outpost located south of the city of Erice. The current town was formed in the 18th century. around the ancient fortress, converted into the temple of St. Vitus (San Vito), after which he received his name. The church, however, even now looks more like a defensive structure: powerful fortifications were required to protect the pilgrims who asked for shelter there.

What to see

Streets and squares

San Vito Lo Capo © Antonio Vaccarini / Flickr.com

The heart of San Vito is the beautiful Piazza Santuario in the northern part of the town. Via Savoia runs through it from south to north with many shops, cafes and restaurants. This is where locals of all ages meet, and during the long summer nights the square hosts concerts, performances and performances by street musicians.

Another special place is the tiny Via Venza, which faces the south side of the main square. It hosts one of the most famous book-themed summer events in the area - a fair called "Books, writers and bougainvilleas" ("Libri autori e buganvillee").

The most popular place during the day is, of course, a long beach with golden sand, giving way to a promenade on the embankment in the evening.

The people of San Vito adore flowers and enjoy decorating their homes with roses, daisies, violets, hibiscus and fragrant jasmine, turning a walk through the local streets into a journey through the intoxicating aromas of the island.

The houses here are low and white-painted, the oldest of them retaining the wide, bright doors that were once made to allow a cart to be brought inside. The large stone courtyard houses (these are known locally as "ballos") have been carefully restored and are now rented out, while simpler houses have given way to modern and cozy Mediterranean-style tourist accommodation.

Of the sights, you should also pay attention to the Palazzo La Porta, where recently the municipality is located. The building was built in the 19th century, and ancient majolica floors have been preserved in some rooms, while the atrium is paved with local cobblestones, in accordance with the canons of architecture of that time. On the other side of the palazzo there is a wonderful garden where exhibitions and other cultural events take place in the summer.

Sea and beach

San Vito Lo Capo © Eddy Galeotti / Shutterstock.com

People come to San Vito primarily for the sea and the beach, which even much more famous tropical resorts can envy. Golden sand stretches here for almost three kilometers; already at the entrance to the city, when the houses are not yet visible, you notice an azure-blue stripe on the horizon. A few more kilometers - and you are already on the fabulous beach of San Vito. The seabed here gently descends as you move away from the coast, there are almost no currents, so this beach is ideal even for those who are not very good swimmers, as well as for the smallest.

San Vito Lo Capo / Shutterstock.com

It has everything you need for those who want to relax and spend the whole day on the beach: a shower, rent of sun loungers and beach umbrellas, a large selection of restaurants and cafes along the promenade. In the evening, the beach is beautifully lit, and the city center is only two steps away, so even at night you can enjoy walks along the surf line.

From anywhere in the city, the beach can be easily reached on foot, but in the summer there is also a shuttle that connects it with more distant points.

For those who like to discover new places, we can advise the beach in the Bay of Santa Margherita (Baia Santa Margherita), 10 minutes drive from San Vito in the direction of the town of Castelluzzo.

Baia di Santa Margherita

Santa Margherita Bay / Flickr.com

Before reaching San Vito lo Capo, passing Castelluzzo, you can admire one of the most unspoilt stretches of coastline in western Sicily, which stretches from Monte Cofano to Macari. Here is the magnificent harbor of Santa Margherita with beautiful waters and a magical Mediterranean landscape all around.

This is a great alternative to the main beach of San Vito, especially on days when the wind blows from the northeast; those who love to explore the natural beauties of Italy are simply obliged to look here.

The beach has a small bar, umbrellas and sunbeds can be rented.

A train runs from the parking lot to the shore, allowing you to visit several tiny sandy and pebbly coves between Santa Margherita and the Riserva Naturale di Monte Cofano nature reserve, which is located nearby. This is an unforgettable adventure for adults and children.

The beach of Santa Margherita impresses with the transparency of the water and the purity of nature; it's a true heaven on earth and the sunsets here are just gorgeous.

Tonnara del Secco

Tonnara del Secco / Flickr.com

Three kilometers from the center of San Vito lo Capo is one of the symbols of these places: Tonnara del Secco. This is a must for anyone who wants to get acquainted with the history of the northwestern coast of Sicily. "Tonnara" are traditional nets for catching tuna, which were thrown here a few meters from the shore; flocks of large tuna passed through the Gulf of Castellammare in the spring, and this fishery was of great importance to the locals. The houses of local fishermen were surrounded by more elegant buildings for aristocrats.

Since 1969, no fish have been caught here, but the place still has its own special aura, and the fishermen who still visit here are happy to talk about how the traditional fishing (mattanza) went. Next to the buildings of the fish warehouses, you can still see what remains of the ancient fish processing devices that were created in the 4th century BC. BC.

All the fish (and this, of course, was not only tuna) that were caught here were processed here. The pools were lined with crushed clay shards, and the dirty water was drained into the sea through a special channel.

Kitchen

Many traditions have left their mark in Sicilian cuisine - Arabic, Greek, Spanish, French. There are many restaurants and trattorias in San Vito Lo Capo, but we also advise you to pay attention to street food, which is represented by a wide variety of dishes that are in no way inferior to the work of the most famous chefs.

fish couscous

Fish couscous / Shutterstock.com

Couscous is a symbol of San Vito cuisine; it has long been cooked here with fresh fish from local waters. The dish originated in North Africa and is one of many examples of how other cultures have influenced Sicilian cuisine. traditional recipe Trapani and its environs, however, has its own difference: if in Arab countries couscous is served with lamb or vegetables, but here it is almost always accompanied by fish, and this is a completely different story.

Swordfish rolls

Swordfish rolls / Shutterstock.com

Thin slices of swordfish fillets are stuffed with a mixture of breadcrumbs, garlic, parsley and grated pecorino sheep's cheese, salted, rolled into small rolls and put on skewers, after which they are grilled or baked.

Eggplants in batter

Eggplants in batter / giallozafferano.it

Three large purple eggplants are cut lengthwise, sprinkled with salt, put the pieces on top of each other in a colander, press the lid on top and leave for an hour. Then rolled in an egg beaten with salt and pepper, and in breadcrumbs, and then fried on a hot olive oil.

Suppli potato balls

Suppli potato balls / giallozafferano.it

Mash a kilogram of boiled potatoes into a homogeneous mass and add a little chopped garlic, parsley, salt and pepper to the puree. Shape it into small oval croquettes and fry them in hot olive oil. In eastern Sicily, "supplies" are rolled in beaten egg white and breadcrumbs before frying.

Trapanese pesto

Trapanese pesto / ocado.com

Crush the garlic cloves, basil and peeled almonds in a mortar with salt and pepper. Having received the cream, add the pulp of the tomato and olive oil there. Continue to crush this mass until it turns into a homogeneous substance. The resulting sauce is added directly to the pasta with fresh basil leaves, aged sheep's pecorino or parmesan cheese.

Stuffed sardines a beccafico

A beccafico sardines / gingerforbreakfast.it

Take the pitted sardines, dry them gently with a towel and spread them on a ceramic bowl, pouring a glass of vinegar. Leave them to marinate for 2 hours, then drain off the vinegar. Transfer to a plate, cut and sprinkle with cheese mixed with two cloves of minced garlic and a spoonful of minced parsley, salt and pepper. Pick them up one by one, close the slit and roll them in a beaten egg with salt and pepper, then in breadcrumbs, then fry them in abundant hot olive oil until they turn golden on both sides. Serve hot and crispy or cold with lemon wedges.

"Warm-Cold" (Caldo-Freddo)

"Warm-Cold" (Caldo-Freddo) / gtfoodandtravel.com

"Warm-Cold" is a traditional San Vito dessert; it consists of ice cream of your choice, pan di spagna soaked in liquor, another layer of ice cream, cream, melted hot chocolate and peanut crumbs.

How to get there

By plane

The main airports from which you can get to San Vito Lo Capo are Palermo (aeroporto Falcone-Borsellino - Punta Raisi) and Trapani (aeroporto Vincenzo Florio - Birgi). Buses run regularly from both airports, providing easy access to any of the surrounding cities.

By car

From Palermo: take the motorway towards Mazara del Vallo/Trapani, exit at "Castellammare del Golfo", continue on the Strada Statale 187 towards Trapani. Continue for about 20 km and turn towards "San Vito Lo Capo".

From Trapani: take the Lungo Mare Dante Alighieri with the sea on the left and then take the Strada Statale 187. After a few settlements, exit the road towards "San Vito Lo Capo".

By train

San Vito lo Capo has no direct trains from the state railways, the closest stations are in Trapani and Castellammare del Golfo. You can find the full train schedule at Trenitalia.com

On the ship

The closest port to San Vito lo Capo is Palermo; You can get here in many different ways, you can learn more about them on the sites

"Sicily is a piece of paradise that fell from heaven," said Guy de Maupassant. A slice of this paradise is Sicily's best resort town of San Vito lo Capo.

About San Vito

San Vito Lo Capo (Sicily) is a small town, included in the list of the best Italian resorts.

Climate and weather

Characteristic mediterranean with rainy warm winter and dry, hot summers, cool springs, and warm autumns. In the northern part of the island it is more humid than in the south, so there is more rain.

Attention! Cold winds blow in January, sirocco in March.

Airport

Distance from the airport of Palermo - 95 kilometers.

Infrastructure

She is well developed. The main street of the city is Via Savoi with numerous shops on the first floors. It is always full of life during the warm season. There is a fish market on Via Faro, a large supermarket Mio mercato superstore. In addition to it, there are many other small shops. Distributed transport network.

San Vito has the atmosphere of true Sicily

Attractions

The city has preserved historical sites. The architecture is similar to Spanish and North African.

Lighthouse Il Faro

Its height is 44 meters. The lighthouse illuminates almost the entire coast.

National parks and reserves Lo Zingaro, Monte Cofano

There are nests of peregrine falcons, buzzards, dwarf parks, special paths for walking. Open from 07:00 to 19:00 (in winter - until 16:00). Price for adults - 5 euros *, children under 14 years old - 3 euros, up to 10 years old - free of charge.

Manjapane Cave

With rock art and stone houses of the Manjapane family. Household items from the 19th century have been preserved in these houses.

Manjapane cave in Sicily

Excursions

Near San Vito are the capital of Sicily, Corleone, Cefalu, Trapani. Corleone is the most mafia city in the country. Mount La Rocca is located in Cefalu (in the translation "kefas" - a rock). famous place in Trapani - Garibaldi street.

Orange blossoms in spring in Sicily

Buses to these points run frequently. The cost is about 10 euros*.

The nearest bus stations are in the city center, there are none near the airport terminal.

Eat special programs with a visit to Erice, Segesta and Trapani. But for such tours it is desirable to have a private car.

Events

On Via Venza, the city festival "Books, writers and bougainvilleas" is held.

The mountain climbing festival in October and the couscous festival in September.

In the spring - a festival of balls.

Beaches

In San Vito Lo Capo in Sicily, the beach is the main tourist destination.

San Vito lo Capo beach in Trapani, Sicily

main beach

It is located close to the center, well equipped. There are sun loungers, medical assistance, public toilets and showers, safes for storing things.

Prices* for services: toilet - 1 euro, shower - 1-3 euros, sunbed - 7.5 euros during the day.

Baia Santa Margherita

This is a quiet haven pure water, bar.

Tonnara del Secco

Fishing center. Previously, there were fish factories here, waste was poured into the sea. And now the center beach holiday.

Hotels

The most popular hotels according to Booking are Krimar in a marine style, close to the beach, and Riviera, located next to the shop and the beach.

San Vito lo Capo on the map

This commune is located in the north of the island of Sicily, in the province of Trapani, 70 kilometers from the capital of Sicily. You can reach it in 3 hours.

San Vito Lo Capo is made for relaxation

Tourists should be aware that:

• There is a Sicilian dialect here, which is very different from Italian.
• It's hot in Sicily, so people who can't stand the heat or those with a heart need to know that the hottest months are July and August.
• In southern Italy, cash is indispensable, because ATMs are rare.
• There are thefts in the city.

San Vito Lo Capo is a place of beaches, oranges and hot sun. Therefore, a holiday in San Vito is unforgettable.

*Prices are current as of August 2018.

Starting to consider the northern coast of Sicily, first of all, we note that it is quite convenient to get here. Firstly, it is here that the Sicilian capital of Palermo is located, where many airlines fly (see the corresponding section for air tickets), and ferries from Naples, Civitavecchia and other cities also arrive (read more about how to get to Palermo). Secondly, another airport is located near Trapani (Ryanair flies to this airport). Thirdly, the north of Sicily has a railway connection with mainland Italy - you can get here by direct train, for example, from Milan or Rome. In a word, there are many possibilities. Is it any wonder that the local beaches are wildly popular?

Places like San Vito lo Capo, Mondello and Cefalu on hearing. These are perhaps the most famous and popular resorts on the northern coast of Sicily. The tourist infrastructure is excellently developed here. But they do not suffer from a lack of attention either. At the height of the summer season (July-August, especially on weekends), local beaches are extremely crowded. However, if this bothers you, there is a way out. Firstly, the swimming season in Sicily does not end in September (and even in October you can often still swim), when the number of tourists is not so large. Secondly, if the budget allows, you can find a hotel with a private beach. Thirdly, almost always and everywhere you can find more or less secluded corners, a little away from the crowd.

Let's take a closer look at the listed places, and also consider other, not so obvious options. For further convenience, we will take Palermo as the main reference point. First, consider the beaches located, and then the beaches from the Sicilian capital.

Let's start with Mondello(Mondello). In fact, this is part of Palermo, and therefore it will be convenient to stay in Mondello if you want to combine a beach holiday with sightseeing in Palermo: you can get to the city center by bus in about half an hour, or by taxi even faster. The beach in Mondello is sandy with a fairly gentle entrance to the sea. It is in demand both among tourists and locals - in summer it is always crowded, noisy and fun, there are many young people and families with children. Accordingly, there are many accommodation options. Basically, these are small guest houses like B & B il Girasole (almost in the very center of resort life) or apartments (in particular, Case D "a Mare Mondello - a little further from the center). However, there are other options.

If you're looking for a little more privacy, check out the Mondello Palace Hotel. The hotel, of course, is not without flaws and also not the cheapest, but its undoubted advantage is the presence of its own beach equipped with everything you need. Another interesting option is Splendid Hotel La Torre, located on a rocky coast away from the noise and crowds of tourists. There is a separate descent to the sea, the water is clear and clean, and immediately deep. In addition, from here it is convenient to go for walks along Cape Gallo, which is famous for the beauty of its nature (in the same place, by the way, you can find "wild" and not crowded rocky beaches).

In short, Mondello is quite suitable for lovers of soft sand and warm, shallow seas, as well as for those who prefer secluded rocky beaches and are not averse to snorkeling. Here you can relax noisily and cheerfully, or vice versa - quietly and calmly, away from prying eyes.

San Vito lo Capo(San Vito Lo Capo)- a place no less popular than Mondello, despite the fact that getting to it by public transport is not very convenient. By bus, about two and a half hours from Palermo - see www.russoautoservizi.it, or about an hour and a half from Trapani - see www.aziendasicilianatrasporti.it, section Linee e orari. In other words, if you focus on this resort, then a rented car will not be superfluous at all. Alternatively, you can order a transfer directly from the airport (see, for example,). And if in the future you are going to devote all the time to a beach holiday, walks around the neighborhood (at least the National Natural Park of Zingaro, Riserva Naturale Orientata dello Zingaro is nearby - see www.riseravazingaro.it) and do not plan sightseeing trips, say, to Segesta or somewhere else, you won't need a car.

San Vito lo Capo is one of the most picturesque corners of Sicily. And the beach here is excellent: soft white sand, clear turquoise sea - the Caribbean is downright, not Europe. But be prepared for the fact that there will always be crowds of people around. In June and September, the beach of San Vito is a little more spacious, but in July-August it is literally not overcrowded, especially on the public areas of the beach. By the way, there are enough of them for almost everyone, but if you need at least some personal space, then it makes sense to focus on paid beaches. At the same time, as such, there are no beach hotels in San Vito lo Capo. One of the few exceptions is the Hotel Capo San Vito, which has direct access to the sea and its own equipped beach. True, in most cases you will have to pay separately for the right to use the beach infrastructure. However, if you do not take into account the costs, then this is perhaps one of the best accommodation options in San Vito. You can, of course, find more budget options - see, in particular, the apartment complexes Residence Le Palme (a little more expensive) and Residence Marinella (cheaper), as well as numerous small hotels like Hotel Baia Di Venere. In any case, you need to book a hotel or apartment in San Vito ahead of time.

If you will be traveling by car, San Vito is worth considering as an alternative Scopello(Scopello) and its immediate surroundings. This is a more calm and quiet place (although it cannot be called completely deserted either). There are several good beaches nearby (mostly small pebbles and stones) and the Zingaro nature reserve is still close (by the way, there are also numerous coves with picturesque beaches on its territory). The accommodation facilities in this area are dominated by apartments and houses for rent as a whole. Good options include Case Della Baia, Torre di Scopello and Residenza Cala Azzurra. Separately, we note Le Case dello Zingaro - a small complex consisting of several houses and apartments, about halfway between San Vito lo Capo and Scopello, surrounded by idyllic beauties, away from the hustle and bustle.

Castellammare del Golfo(Castellammare del Golfo) is also a worthy alternative, and not only for auto travelers. It is quite convenient to get here and public transport. From Palermo it is better to go by bus: the journey is within an hour and a half (see www.russoautoservizi.it). It takes a little longer to get from Trapani: about 1 hour 40 minutes by bus (see www.aziendasicilianatrasporti.it) or about two hours by train (see www.trenitalia.com, the railway station is located at a distance from the city center, but next to the beach). In addition, being based in Castellammare, it is quite convenient to travel around the area (see the above sites + www.tarantolabus.it). By bus, you can go to Scopello, and San Vito lo Capo, and Segesta, and Trapani (complete with Erice), and Palermo, etc.

The contrast with Mondello and San Vito lo Capo is striking. Of course, tourists come to Castellammare, but in much smaller quantities. Accordingly, the tourist infrastructure is less developed here. However, this is perhaps for the best. Castellammare del Golfo is, in a sense, a much more lively and untrodden place.

The beach here is not bad: sandy, rather wide and long, and therefore noticeably more spacious than in the same Mondello and San Vito, although perhaps not so clean and picturesque. However, when choosing a place to stay, you need to take into account that this very beach is located away from the historical center of Castellammare: about 20 minutes walk to the east, towards the town Balestrate(Balestrate), up to which, in fact, it stretches (the farther from Castellammare, the better the beach).

Thus, if you focus on the possibilities of public transport, it will be more convenient to stay somewhere between the center of Castellammare and the beach. Good options in the area are Punta Nord Est and B&B A Mare. It is not far from here to the center and to the beach - in both cases, about 10 minutes on foot. In addition, very close (just a couple of minutes), you can find a small pebble beach. Another interesting option, a little closer to the center and the port, Marina di Petrolo Hotel & Spa. Of course, there are also apartments nearby.

If you will be by car, it makes sense to take a closer look at the area between Castellammare and Balestrate. Pay attention, for example, to the resort village Alcamo Marina(Alcamo Marina) and, in particular, the four-star hotel La Battigia (by the way, its location is incorrect on the booking.com map, the hotel is located on the first line, i.e. right on the beach). Here you can also find apartments or a house on the seashore for quite reasonable money: see, as an option, Dune Home.

Finally, in this part of the northern coast of Sicily, it is worth considering such towns as Isola delle Femmine(Isola delle Femmine), flowing smoothly into capaci(Capaci), And Terrasini(Terrasini). Since they are all located near Palermo Airport (Aeroporto di Palermo Falcone e Borsellino), it will be convenient to stay here for one or two nights before departure (especially in case of an early departure).

You must have already noticed that so far we have been talking exclusively about the beaches located west of Palermo up to San Vito lo Capo. Further west, from San Vito to Marsala, there are also beaches. However, in our opinion, they are not of great interest. As an exception, it is worth noting a pretty village Cornino(cornino), which is at the foot of Mount Cofano (Monte Cofano), and a scattering of small beaches, like a beach Santa Margherita(Spiaggia di Santa Margherita - here it is on Google Maps), on the stretch of coast between Cornino and San Vito lo Capo (it's better to go here by car). Otherwise, everything is quite prosaic, although if you wish, you can find other beaches, and even beach hotels like Resort I Mulini in Trapani(Trapani).

Since we are talking about Trapani, let’s clarify that the local beaches are located a little further from the city center (15–20 minutes on foot) and stretch along the Dante Alighieri promenade (Lungomare Dante Alighieri) just up to the aforementioned Resort I Mulini hotel. Another place worth paying attention to if you are interested in beaches in the immediate vicinity of Trapani is Lido di Marausa(Lido di Marausa), from where you can get to Trapani Airport (Aeroporto Vincenzo Florio Trapani-Birgi).

In addition, it is worth mentioning the island of Favignana, but this is a completely different topic that deserves separate consideration.

The most famous resort in this part of the coast is Cefalu. Let's talk about him first.

Cefalu(Cefalù)- a very colorful place with a long sandy beach, literally adjoining the walls of the Old City. It is convenient to get here both by car and public transport. The fastest way to get from Palermo is by train, which takes about 50 minutes (hereinafter, see www.trenitalia.com). In addition, trains arriving in Sicily from the mainland stop in Cefalu: for example, the night trains Intercitynotte 1955 and Intercitynotte 1959 from Rome, or Intercitynotte 1963 from Milan. In general, in terms of transport accessibility, this is one of the the best places for a beach holiday in Sicily.

At the same time, the city itself also deserves considerable attention: there is something to see and the views of the surroundings are excellent - in a word, walking around Cefalu is interesting (although not easy, given the significant elevation changes and summer heat).

As for the main city beach, it is also generally quite good (the sand is soft, the entrance to the sea is convenient, quite gentle, but not far from the depth), but it is expectedly crowded. As usual, there are especially many people on the free sections of the beach, of which, generally speaking, there are many, but there are more than enough people who want to sit on their own towel. However, if you live directly in Cefalu, then finding a free place will not be difficult - just come to the beach a little earlier than everyone else (many come here closer to noon from the same Palermo). However, if the budget allows, it is still better to focus on hotels with their own beach. One of the best options from this point of view is the four-star hotel Cefalù Sea Palace. It is located in a rather quiet place, a little away from the center, but at the same time within walking distance from the Old Town. The three-star Villa Gaia Hotel is a cheaper option in the same area.

I must say that in Cefalu you can find at least one more good beach - Caldura (Spiaggia Caldura). Unlike the central beach of Cefalu, it is pebbly, and therefore the water here is the cleanest even at the very shore. And the place itself is beautiful. But the entrance to the water is not very comfortable (special shoes will be useful), and it is far from the center of Cefalu - about 20-30 minutes on foot. In other words, it is advisable to focus on this beach if you plan to travel around Sicily by car, and / or if you need a quiet, secluded place and you like to walk a lot. Fortunately, there are good accommodation options nearby: see, for example, the Blue Bay apart-hotel or the Kalura hotel (each, by the way, has its own small beach).

Thus, you can easily settle in Milazzo for a week or two, supplementing your beach holiday with walks around the city and trips to the Aeolian Islands. Speaking of islands! After all, there are also beaches, as well as thermal springs and therapeutic mud, and in general a lot of interesting things. Therefore, it makes sense to consider the option based on one of them. In this regard, two islands are of the greatest interest: Lipari and Salina. However, this is a topic for a separate discussion.

Returning to Milazzo, we note that the most convenient way to get here is by car. There is also a railway station in Milazzo, but it is located about three kilometers from the city center, i.e. to get to the port or the beaches, you will have to take a taxi or change to the city bus (Linea 4 and Linea 5, see www.comune.milazzo.me.it). It is also worth mentioning that there are buses connecting Milazzo with Catania Airport (see www.giuntabus.com).

And now let's say a few words about not so famous, but no less interesting places. These include towns such as Capo d'Orlando, Brolo, Gioiosa Marea and some others, located exactly between Cefalu and Milazzo (from Palermo - one and a half to two hours by train, or about an hour and a half from Messina). It would seem that all these places are nothing special. However, they are perfect for a relaxing beach holiday - there are few tourists here (compared to Cefalu, not to mention Mondello and San Vito lo Capo), and intrusive beach vendors do not bother. In addition, each of these places has its own railway station, which greatly facilitates the life of "horseless" tourists.

There are also worthy accommodation options.

IN Capo d'Orlando(Capo d'Orlando) you should pay attention to the hotel Il Mulino and apart-hotels Residence Sant "Andrea and Vuelle Residence Apartments. You can choose more budget options. The beach here is quite spacious, clean, mostly pebble, although sand is found in some places (for example, near the lighthouse , the landmark is the Nuovo Hotel Faro), there are many free sites, but there is also the opportunity to rent a sun lounger with an umbrella.There are also traditional beach hotels with their own beach equipment (as an option, Capo Nettuno Hotel Residence), but they are all located away from the center Capo d'Orlando and, as a rule, make a "tired" impression.

IN Brolo(Brolo) you can take a closer look at the Il Gattopardo hotel or choose from among the apartments for rent: see, in particular, the Brolium apartments. The beach here is sandy, quite clean and well-groomed. The town itself is small. This is not even a town, but rather a village, but, as is often the case in Italy, a village with history: in Brolo and medieval castle available, and tangled narrow streets available - in general, everything is as it should be. However, to say that time has stopped here would be an exaggeration. Nearby, for example, quite a modern shopping center La Filanda (10-15 minutes walk).

Gioiosa-Marea(Gioiosa Marea) also a good place, with a cozy pebble beach and clear sea. You can stay here, for example, in apartments Terrazza Sul Mare, from where you can walk to the beach, or in a pretty guest house Bed & Breakfast 5 Di Spade, a little further away. Nearby, on Cape Calava (Capo Calava), you can also find a couple of decent beach hotels with animation, swimming pools, sports fields, etc. and so on. – see in particular Baia Calava Hotel e Residence and TH Capo Calava Village.

There are beach resorts to the east of Milazzo: in particular, Venetico Marina(Venetic Marina), Rhodia(Rodia) And San Saba(San Saba). All these places are non-tourist, where the local population rests. But, of course, the way here is not booked for tourists either: see, for example, apart-hotels La Baia Di Ulisse (Venetico Marina), Rodia Residence (Rodia) and Oasi Azzurra Hotel Village (San Saba) - good options for a relaxing holiday away from the main tourist routes. The best part is that the local beaches are not crowded even at the height of the summer season. It is better to go to this area by car (although Railway nearby). True, it is far from Palermo - about 200 km. Catania is closer - about 110 km. And Messina (and the ferry to the mainland) is 20 km away.

If you are attracted to non-tourist places, but at the same time you are guided by Palermo, planning to settle somewhere nearby for a vacation, then there are options for this case. Perhaps the most obvious of these Campofelice di Roccella(Campofelice di Roccella)- 50 km east of Palermo (you can get here by train in 30-40 minutes).

San Vito lo Capo is a resort town in the northwest of the island of Sicily in Italy, whose beaches are recognized as the best in Europe. Photo-reviews about holidays in San Vito lo Capo and Zingaro Reserve.

I had high hopes for San Vito lo Capo. This beach is considered one of the best in Sicily and almost the best beach in Europe. It is not surprising that all the inhabitants of the island and other vacationers strive to get there.

At the entrance to San Vito lo Capo, for a moment it seemed to me that I was in Mexico. The same streets lined with even houses in a semi-Mexican style.

The structure of the city is typical: the main street Via Savoi with bars, shops, souvenir shops and a church. Secondary streets depart from it. In the evening, music plays in the establishments, performances are arranged.

There are free parking lots in the city, but there are a lot of cars, so you will have to search long and hard. We parked in a paid parking near the beach ( 1€ at one o'clock).

San Vito lo Capo beach, Sicily

The city beach is also somewhat reminiscent of the Mexican Caribbean beaches: white sand, turquoise water. The only and main difference is the huge number of people.

The length of the coastline in San Vito is 3 km, there are cafes near the sea, there is a toilet, you can rent sunbeds and umbrellas ( 10€ in a day).

We were in Sicily in June - this month is considered the low season. It is difficult to imagine what kind of pandemonium is happening on the beaches of the island in July-August.

San Vito lo Capo is popular with Italians for families with children, there are also enough young people. I have never seen so many peanuts in any coastal city in Italy as there. It is understandable. Gentle descent into the water, shallow depth, sand - everything is conducive to family recreation.

Hotels and apartments in San Vito lo Capo

It is better to book accommodation in advance, especially if the travel dates fall during the high season. Average prices for hotels and apartments fluctuate in the area 40-100€ per night. To book accommodation in Sicily, we used the following sites:

• Apartments in San Vito lo Capo from owners (from 29€ per day)

• Hotels in San Vito lo Capo (265 hotels from 40€ per night)

Excursions in Sicily

Lo Jingaro National Park

Southeast of San Vito there is national park Zingaro, Italian. Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro (entrance 5 € ). You can buy an excursion or go along the mountain serpentines, having previously rented a car. The park has special wooden paths along the sea. You can take a walk, and then swim in one of the coves.

From San Vito to the Zingaro Nature Reserve can be reached by rented scooter ( 35€ ), rented car (from 50€ ) or by bus englishautoservizi.it

Monte Cofano Nature Reserve

The road to San Vito lo Capo from Castellammare is beautiful. The views are wonderful: fields, rocks, villages, cacti. On the road leading along the coast from Trapani to San Vito, you pass the Monte Cofano nature reserve. There are several lookouts along the way. You can stop, take a photo, or you can drive up to the sea and swim on one of the wild beaches of the north-west of Sicily.

Road to San Vito along the coast

My reviews and impressions

Reading reviews of San Vito lo Capo on numerous forums, I understand that I don’t understand something. I have seen too many beaches in my life, I have become too spoiled, because San Vito is really cool, and all the good things that are written about him are true!

Turquoise, white, with rocks - everything, as in the best pictures of the Bounty Islands. Well, just think, a piece of poop was swimming near the shore. There are children there - this must be understood and accepted.

You know, I sincerely would like to be the kind of dude who wanted to spit on other people's poop. This one would definitely go into the water, swim back and forth all day and sneeze at the squeals of people, the fact that someone stepped on his phone, at the squeaking children. But I'm not that kind of dude.

While traveling in Italy by car, I was in a state of search for peace and quiet, so the beaches of Sicily did not roll in any way. Even San Vito lo Capo left indifferent.

It was originally planned to drive around the island, walk along national parks and volcanoes, but all I needed was a clear sea and at least 3 square meters of free sand, where I could lay out a towel and silently read a book.

That is why we reduced our stay in Sicily from 15 days to 4 nights and happily returned to the mainland in where a semblance of a personal paradise had been found before.

V reverse order and return first to Milazzo, and then to Palermo. Next we were waiting for a car rental and the northwestern tip of the island.

Having decided that there was no point in wasting time and money on a "high-speed train" for the second time, we aimed to go by a regular train with a departure from Milazzo at one in the afternoon and, having supplemented the hotel-ferry-station chain with Lipari-Milazzo tickets for 11:10 in the morning, we ordered transfer to the port at the reception and went to pack our bags.

Lipari - Milazzo - Palermo

Before arriving in Milazzo, everything went according to plan and, with about an hour left to get from the port to the station, we stomped to the bus stop and were soon sad. Instead of five buses, which, according to the schedule, were supposed to leave in the past half hour, only one stopped near us, following in a completely different direction from the station. There was less and less time left for the train, and to hope that, like a week ago, it would be almost an hour late back, it was at least unreasonable, and we began to look for alternative ways.

The main and, as it turned out later, the only one: a taxi, lay on the surface, but the price of 12 euros was slightly discouraging. As a result, we found fellow travelers, two German tourists, apparently also not ready to part with such an amount of money for a three-minute journey, and agreed that the four of us would go for 15. According to the "laws of the genre", the train not only arrived on schedule in Milazzo , but without delay brought us to Palermo, while taking away the same three hours of time at half the cost: 20.80 instead of 39.00.

Having decided not to mess with public transport anymore, we walked the distance from the station to the port of Palermo (there was an Avis rental). Two and a half kilometers in the center of the Sicilian capital made us think about another visit to this city in the future, but light, without suitcases and a car. This time a stop in Palermo was not included in our plans. Having rented a car, we had to drive about a hundred kilometers to the west and thereby avoid spending the night and, most importantly, parking in this city.

Castelammare del Golfo

The hotel that was supposed to shelter us for one night on our return from the Aeolian Islands was called Locanda Scirocco and was located on the main street of the town of Castelammare del Golfo. Having made the first three laps in a rented car around the historical center, we involuntarily remembered the saying "what we fought for, we ran into" - there were no free parking spaces as a class. But after almost a week break, having got into a stressful situation, the brain finally turned on.

It was this body that helped to find a way out of the current situation, namely, to look for happiness on the same street, but further from the center. The task was complicated by the fact that the street was one-way and in order to realize our plans, we had to make one more circle. Be that as it may, on the fifth try we found free place, threw Euro-twenty into the parking meter and stomped on foot to the hotel. At the reception, it turned out that our room was not located in the main building, but up the street and, if we knew this in advance, we could not wind circles around the city, but calmly park near the entrance.

Now our car was exactly in the middle between the room and the reception, and of the unsolved problems, only one remained, related to finding a place for dinner. If we had to solve problems with parking ourselves, then our hotel helped us with the restaurant. Having received a Posidonia cafe business card with a stamp giving a 10% discount, although we made a timid attempt to find something on our own, in the end we put up with this offer and did not lose at all.

Castle by the sea on the bay of the castle by the sea

Leaving acquaintance with the city in the morning, at the beginning of the ninth morning we were already drinking coffee at Locanda Scirocco. Remembering the funny mutual arrangement hotel, room and car, after breakfast we had to do several things in a strictly defined sequence: get to the car and extend the parking by putting the payment receipt under the windshield, return to the room, pick up things, load the suitcases into the trunk, return the room key to the reception.

Having done these simple steps and adding almost a kilometer to the treasury of the distance traveled during the day, it was finally possible to concentrate on Castelammare del Golfo. Founded by the Elyms who inhabited the western part of Sicily in the 11th-7th centuries BC, Emporium Segestanorum, as it was then called, served as a port for Segesta, one of the largest cities of this people.

Almost two thousand years later, with the conquest of the island by the Arabs, a fortress appeared here, which subsequently gave the modern name to the city (the Arabs called it "Al Madarig" or "city of steps" because a large number steps that had to be climbed to climb from the port to the castle). Almost a thousand years later, the mafia appeared here and the name of the city gave the name of one of the most famous battles for the division of spheres of influence in New York between Italian mafia clans - the Castellammar War.

We made three conclusions from visiting Castelammare del Golfo. Firstly, in the evening the city looked more picturesque than in the morning. Secondly, more than a hundred steps separating the city beach from the embankment could be overcome equally quickly both up and down: in the first case, being tempted by its view, and in the second, fleeing from the fetid smells of algae rotting on the shore. Finally, thirdly, if you translate the name of the city, it turned out: "castle by the sea on the bay", but if you think about the name of the bay itself: "Golfo di Castellammare" - and link both phrases together, it becomes completely funny: "castle by the sea on the bay of the castle by the sea".

Scopello

Whatever the case, we found best view to the city from observation deck. In addition, Castellammare del Golfo was considered an excellent springboard for exploring its surroundings, which, apart from Segesta, where we never went, included the tuna processing factory in Scopello. Tonnara di Scopello became the most expensive and most useless attraction of the whole trip.

We couldn’t swim and sunbathe because of the huge number of people, it was far from possible to photograph everything, it’s impossible to get into the territory of the former factory, it’s much more pleasant to relieve yourself under some bush than using the plastic-booth-toilet there. And this despite the fact that we paid seven euros for visiting this beautiful place: one for parking and three from the nose for the entrance. Therefore, do not be surprised by the four almost identical photos below - you have to pay back the investment :)

However, for fans of Ocean's Twelve, one of the scenes of the film was filmed here: "meeting Gaspard LeMarc", and, perhaps, that's all. Although no - the view from the beach to the rocks sticking out of the sea was also very pretty.

San Vito Lo Capo

Disappointed in visiting the former tuna factory, we rushed towards another beach, which our guide called one of the best beaches Sicily - San Vito Lo Capo. The road twisted bizarrely between the hills: we skirted the Zingaro Nature Reserve (Riserva naturale dello Zingaro) - until we finally came to the shore of another bay, Golfo di Cofano.

Somewhere here, according to legend, accompanied by a mentor Modest and his wife Crescentia (and part-time nanny), St. Vitus landed on the shore. Hiding from the persecution of the Roman emperor Diocletian and his own father, the boy sailed to Sicily by ship and took refuge in one of the settlements in the mountains. Having begun to preach Christianity, he soon discovered in himself a number of abilities for the treatment of patients, which he also began to put into practice.

Further development events were not so clear cut. According to some legends, Vit was called to Rome to heal the Emperor's son and then sentenced to death because of his beliefs: being placed in a cage with lions did not give the desired effect, and it was decided to execute the great martyr in a barrel of boiling oil. According to another version, Vit was expelled from the village in which he healed, in response, God sent a landslide on the inhabitants, as a result of which Vit was caught, tied to horses and torn to pieces.

As a result, St. Vitus became the patron of the city of the same name and a place of pilgrimage, and the fortress once erected by the Arabs was rebuilt into a church, fortified from pirate raids and for many centuries became the Sanctuary of Vitus (Il Santuario). In honor of the boy's nanny Crescentia, a chapel (Cappella di Santa Crescenzia) was built on the shores of the Kofan Bay, and only the name of Modest remained only in the hearts of believers.

In addition to being an influential patron and the stunning sandy beach of San Vito, Lo Capo had another feature: once a year at the end of September, for ten days, a international festival couscous (Cous Cous Fest). Chefs from ten countries competed to prepare this North African dish, the streets of San Vito Lo Capo turned into a giant "collective farm market", and many local restaurants outside competitive program presented to the visitors the creations of their chefs.

We rushed to one of these restaurants, barely reaching the city and, looking ahead,Gna Sara became our best restaurant in Sicily.