Erice, Trapani Webcam

Category: Panoramic

Erice is located on top of Mount Erice, and overlooks the city of Trapani, and the dramatic Punta del Saraceno, providing spectacular views.

The ancient name of Erice was Eryx, and its foundation was associated with the eponymous Greek hero Eryx. It was not a Greek colony, but was largely Hellenized. It was destroyed in the First Punic War by the Carthaginians, and from then on declined in importance.

In the northeastern portion of the city there are the remains of ancient Elymian and Phoenician walls indicating different stages of settlement and occupation in antiquity.

There are two castles, Pepoli Castle, which dates from Saracen times, and the Venus Castle, from the Norman period, built on top of the ancient Temple of Venus, where Venus Ericina was worshipped. According to legend, the temple was founded by Aeneas.

It was well-known, and an ancient cult was celebrated there. In his book On the Nature of Animals, Aelian writes that animals chosen for sacrifice would voluntarily walk up to the altar to be killed.