SICILY - 28 SEPT TO 1 OCT

While Helen was in London, I returned to the boat in Marsala (Ian had stayed onboard after our crossing from Menorca to boat sit and explore the region around Marsala/Trapani) and Ian and I re-visited Favignana Island (this time anchoring on south side – took three attempts to get the anchor to dig in as there was so much thick weed on the seabed – fortunately the water was so crystal clear that even in 5 metres we could see where there was a small patch of sand and drop the anchor directly on the sand). Then we took the boat further south east to Sciacca from where Ian returned to the UK and Helen, Chris and Tim joined me.

I collected everyone from Trapani airport and we visited Erice – a middle ages town (although the Elymians, Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Romans all had settlements here) perched on a hilltop (750m) overlooking Trapani with outstanding views of the west and north coasts and the offshore islands. The town still has a superb Norman castle (extraordinarily the Normans conquered as far south as Sicily and Malta) built on the site of the ancient temple of Venus/Astarte/Aphrodite. Erice is also famous for wonderful pastries! Then we drove to Selinunte where there are remains of Greek temples and the acropolis – the Greeks colonised Sicily and Selinunte was established around 650 BC but then destroyed by the Carthiginians around 400 BC.

Sciacca was a great town to visit – not only a good base for exploring the temples of Selinunte but a very friendly marina (we were offered beer and a bottle of wine on arrival and on Sunday morning some bread with oil and anchovies!) and the town has some lovely buildings, is well known for its thermal springs and for ceramics and has an amazing piazza looking out over the harbour. The downside is that the town is an arduous climb up from the harbour – we discovered how unfit (at least for climbing) we have become. Sciacca also has some famous citizens (incl Bon Jovi’s family and Johnny Dundee (boxer) was born in Sciacca) and other important families!