Day 1. 8 SEP: Erice, Segesta and overnight at Antichi Granai

Driving in Trapani/ Sicily induces anxiety! Cars come at you from all angles. It is a matter of playing chicken as to who goes first; she who hesitates is lost. Do not bring your own car here and if you hire a car take out fully comprehensive insurance cover (even though that will double the rental cost). We have rented a small Fiat and we just blend in with the rest of the battered Fiats on the road. We are also treated like Italians not tourists. Sign posts are good on the main roads and on the motorways but optional everywhere else. Of course as we are driving the cycle route, we are mostly on the backroads. So whenever there is a junction you have to be ready - as none of the converging roads will instruct you to "Give Way" or "Stop".

Due to the invalid (Jo) - and despite Sarah looking longingly at the hill walk - we took the cable car up and down to Erice (700 metres above sea level). 









Finding parking at the bottom of the cable car is a challenge in itself but there were some very helpful "minders" in a backstreet...

We were relieved to return to find the car still there, with contents in tact.

 

We were lucky to get a clear but cloudy day so not too hot. 

The remains of the Norman castle (Castello di Venere) is worth a walk and the vistas of the surrounding countryside are magnificent. 







We then drove on to Segesta - about 50km away.

Segesta has one of the best preserved Doric temples (without a roof) in the world. It has been dated to 400BC. Imagine what this Temple has survived - in terms of earthquakes, and other human and natural disasters.

There is also a perfectly preserved 3rd century BC theatre nearby.

Both are located in peaceful, rolling countryside. We were shocked that almost all the visitors took the bus up to the theatre - but not us!

We headed to our overnight accommodation near Calatafimi-Segesta - after a hilarious drive through narrow streets in the town and a very protracted discussion with locals in the town square over exactly where "Antiche Granai" is. Finally we found it - and it was worth the hunt.