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Venus Castle – Historic Center of Erice loop from Università degli Studi di Palermo

Routes

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Venus Castle – Historic Center of Erice loop from Università degli Studi di Palermo

Hard

runners

Venus Castle – Historic Center of Erice loop from Università degli Studi di Palermo

02:09

17.0km

760m

Running

Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: May 17, 2026

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10.0 km

Venus Castle

Highlight • Castle

A beautiful view, no matter in which direction you look.

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10.5 km

Erice is truly a special place for hikers who want to enjoy old alleys and medieval flair. The tight network of cobblestone streets invites you to wander aimlessly through the town and soak up the atmosphere. When you wander through these narrow alleys, you feel like you are in another time. The old stone walls, blooming flowers in clay pots and the small shops along the paths give the whole thing a charming, almost mystical character.

But be careful - it is easy to get lost here. But that is exactly what makes it so appealing. You keep coming across new little squares, hidden churches or viewpoints that offer you fantastic views over the countryside and the sea. It is worth just stopping and taking in the tranquility of the place.

Erice is more than just an old town - it is a place where you can feel history while breathing in the fresh air of the Sicilian mountains.

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11.0 km

Historic Center of Erice

Highlight • Historical Site

The history of Erice has its roots in the legend that wants the city founded now by Aeneas, now by Eraclea or simply by Erice, king of the Elimi. Certainly in antiquity Erice was known for its temple where the Phoenicians worshiped Astarte, the Greeks Aphrodite and the Romans Venus. Mount Eryx served as a reference point for navigators of which Venus soon became the protector. At night, a large fire lit in the sacred area served as a lighthouse. The Phoenicians were succeeded by the Syracusans (4th century BC), the Hellenes (3rd century BC), the Carthaginians, and finally the Romans who maintained the temple by abandoning the city which rose again after the year 1000 with the Norman domination. At that time there was a village connected to a Norman castle with a bridge, inhabited by Christians, but it was no longer called Erice, but Monte San Giuliano, a name it kept until 1936.
Visiting Erice is always beautiful, both in the warm and bright days of summer, when the light floods the streets and wonderful views open onto the valley and the sea, and in the winter days when the clouds envelop everything, giving the impression of being out of town. time and reality. The intricate labyrinth of alleys characterized by the beautiful squared pavement, offers unexpected glimpses of the churches and monasteries that here are more than sixty. The medieval atmosphere, the fresh air, the beautiful pine forests that surround it, the tranquility that reigns there and the local craftsmanship make it one of the favorite destinations for tourists.
Close to the Porta di Trapani, one of the entrances to the city, is the beautiful Mother Church which dates back to the 14th century and was built with material from the Temple of Venus. It is a fortress-church crowned with battlements with a large Gothic portico and a rose window that lightens the facade and an interior, in neo-Gothic style.
Nearby, isolated on the left, is the bell tower, formerly a watchtower, with Ghibelline battlements, loopholes and beautiful chiaramontano-style mullioned windows.
The Castle dates back to the Norman period (XII century), when on this promontory there were the remains of the ancient temple dedicated to Venus Ericina. The Normans built a fortress surrounded by mighty walls and protected by its position and by the more advanced Balio Towers, once connected to the castle by a drawbridge. The defensive character is still testified by the plumbing hole above the entrance door enriched by the coat of arms of Charles V of Spain and by a beautiful mullioned window.

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