"Sicilians build as if they’ll live forever
and eat as if they’ll die tomorrow."
- Plato
The Marina and port of castellammare del golfo, Sicily
Castellammare del Golfo is a beautiful historic village nestled between the hills of the Inici mountains and the coast of the Zingaro Nature Reserve, framed by the famous beaches of Western Sicily and turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea. This vibrant seaside town is known to have one of the most beautiful peninsulae in all of Sicily.
The village was founded in the 6th century BC by the Elymians, an ancient people who inhabited the western part of Sicily during the Bronze Age and Classical antiquity. It was created as a center of maritime trade by Segesta and called 'Emporium Segestanorum.' It became a harbor of extensive commerce and importance, written about by famous ancient writers of the time such as Ptolemy, Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus, and Thucydides.
When the Arabs arrive in the 1800s, the town becomes known as Al-Madarig, meaning "the stairs." Scholars attribute this name from the stairway that led from the highest part of the village to the port. It is the castle overlooking the gulf built by the Arabs that inspired the current name of the borgo, Castellammare del Golfo.
Castellammare del Golfo is a town steeped in history and a mosaic of cultural influences because it endured a series of invasions, from the Arabs & Normans who invaded in the first millennium AD to the Spanish, British, and Bourbons in the second. The town and its port continued to be an essential trading post throughout its history, as late as the 20th century.
Arab-Norman Castle
The Arabs occupied Castellammare del Golfo from 827 AD and are who first built the castle fortress, later enlarged by the Normans.
The best way to enjoy Castellammare del Golfo's lively historic center is by taking an evening "passeggiata." Starting from Palazzo del Golfo you can begin your passeggiata from Corso Mattarella towards Quattro Canti, and turn onto Corso Garibaldi. Here is where you will find many restaurants, pubs, gelaterias, and local artisan shops and stalls. You may choose to wander towards Piazza Petrolo, a beautiful square that overlooks the sea. The urban plan of windy streets and hidden ancient staircases to the Marina and Arab-Norman Castle provides many distinctive routes to explore Castellammare del Golfo. In the Marina, you will find many seaside restaurants, cocktail bars, and live music.
Porto di Castellammare del Golfo
The town enjoys a vibrant restaurant scene fueled by the riches of the sea featuring local seafood delicacies and traditional Sicilian specialties highlighting fresh local ingredients. In the summer there are live music performances around most corners, at the Villa Comunale Regina Margherita garden and the large open-air arena, Arena Delle Rose.
As much as there is to enjoy in Castellammare del Golfo, it is the perfect launch point for touring the island.
Chiesa Maria SS. del Soccorso
Chiesa Madre ( La Matrici), built on the foundations of a previous church, its construction began in 1726 and the place opened for worship ten years later.
Madonna del Soccorso
One of the most significant events concerns the re-enactment of a historic naval battle between the English and the Spanish, which took place in 1718 right in the body of water in front of the coast of Castellammare. The English had managed to break down the Spanish defenses and land on the beach. The frightened inhabitants then invoked the help of the Madonna. This appeared to the English soldiers dressed in white and surrounded by angels, pushing them to escape.
Living it up in Sicily.
Not only is Palazzo del Golfo in the unbelievable location at the heart of Castellammare del Golfo but it is also conveniently located 25 minutes from Palermo international airport and many nearby historical attractions
This page uses material from the Wikipedia article "Castellammare del Golfo", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
