Monte Erice
{{short description|Mountain in Italy}}
{{Infobox mountain
|name= Monte Erice
| other_name = Mount Eryx
|photo= Nubia - saline e vetta d'Erice.JPG
| photo_caption = Monte Erice seen from Trapani
| location = Trapani, Sicily, Italy
| elevation_m = 840
| coordinates = {{coord|38.03529|N|12.59214|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| map = Italy#Italy Sicily
}}
Monte Erice, or ancient Greek Mount Eryx, is a mountain of Sicily, in the province of Trapani.
Location
The mountain is to the east of Trapani and encompasses an area of 18.3 km2. The Lenzi River has its source on the mountain.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sitr.regione.sicilia.it/pai/relaz_lenzi_baiata/relaz_lenzi_baiata-5.html|title = Page 5}}
The city of Erice is located on the summit, the frazione of Santa Casa, Erice and the suburbs of Trapani are located on the western slopes, and the comune of Valderice is on the eastern side of the mountain.
Geography
The mountain is covered by vegetation: there is a forest of Aleppo pine around Martogna, oak in the state forest of Sant'Anna, as well as holm oak and downy oak in the Costa Spada area.{{cite web |url=http://www.lasiciliainrete.it/NATURA/aree_attrezzate/TRAPANI/erice_vetta/erice_vetta.htm |title=Area Attrezzata demaniale Erice Vetta |accessdate=2015-11-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022184639/http://www.lasiciliainrete.it/natura/aree_attrezzate/TRAPANI/erice_vetta/erice_vetta.htm |archivedate=2015-10-22 }}
There are numerous hiking trails.{{Cite web|url=http://www.piediincammino.it/primi-sentieri-cai-sulla-montagna-di-erice/|title=Primi sentieri CAI sulla montagna di Erice}} Four of these are officially marked by the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI), connecting the historic centre of Erice with surrounding forests, chapels, and panoramic overlooks:
- Sentiero Demanio Forestale San Matteo (CAI 604) – A 6.9 km moderate trail descending from Erice’s Chiesa Matrice to the Sicilian Forestry Corps Museum, passing medieval sites, pine forests, and agro-forestry landscapes with interpretive features.{{cite web |title=Sentiero San Matteo |url=https://www.sicilytrekkingtour.it/tours/san-matteo/ |website=Sicily Trekking Tour |access-date=11 June 2025}}
- Sentiero Torretta Pepoli (CAI 601A) – A 2.7 km shaded woodland path through the Bosco dei Runzi, offering views of the Castle of Venus and Balio Towers; rich in birdlife and Mediterranean flora.{{cite web |title=Torretta People |url=https://www.sicilytrekkingtour.it/tours/torretta-pepoli/ |website=Sicily Trekking Tour |access-date=11 June 2025}}
- Sentiero Porta Castellammare – Tre Chiese (CAI 602) – A 4.5 km scenic loop from Erice’s eastern gate past wild orchid groves, coastal viewpoints, and rural chapels, blending nature and local religious heritage.{{cite web |title=Porta Castellammare – Tre chiese |url=https://www.sicilytrekkingtour.it/tours/porta-castellamare-tre-chiese/ |website=Sicily Trekking Tour |access-date=11 June 2025}}
- Sentiero di Sant’Anna (CAI 601) – A 5.5 km descent from Porta Trapani to the Sant’Anna Sanctuary, passing wooded picnic areas, panoramic terraces, and historic pilgrimage sites, ending near the cable car station.{{cite web |title=Sentiero di Sant’Anna |url=https://www.sicilytrekkingtour.it/tours/sentiero-di-santanna-2/ |website=Sicily Trekking Tour |access-date=11 June 2025}}
History
{{hatnote|Main article: Eryx}}
In ancient times the mountain was occupied by the Elymians and subsequently by the Carthaginians, the Greeks, and the Romans, who worshipped Aphrodite Erycina, or Venus Erycina, there. In 1117 it was renamed as Monte San Giuliano by the Normans, .{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=In-uY3yXbP4C&q=monte+erice+geografia&pg=PA75|title=Nozioni elementari della geografia e storia del reame delle due Sicilie: Dalla sua origine sino ai tempi nostri|last1=Pandullo|first1=Domenico|year=1838}} The original name was restored in 1934.
Until the 1950s the comune of Monte San Giuliano included the territory of the current commune of Erice, as well as Valderice, Custonaci, San Vito Lo Capo and Buseto Palizzolo.
Since 1954, the Monte Erice hillclimbing championship has taken place on its slopes every year.{{Cite web|url=http://www.acisportitalia.it/civm/informazioni-risultati/982/Cronoscalata-Monte-Erice/2015|title=ACI Sport - Sito ufficiale}}
See also
References
External links
- {{cite web|url=http://www.regione.sicilia.it/presidenza/ucomrifiuti/acque/DOCUMENTI/DOCUMENTI_E/E3/TRAPANI/Monte%20Erice.pdf|author=Regional Government of Sicily|title=Corpo Idrico Sotterraneo: Monte Erice}}