Although small, Erice is home to many ancient architectural works. These include the Gothic-arched Erice Cathedral, or the Antonio Cordici Museum, which was once a Franciscan monastery and, before that, a temple to Venus. Even the houses lining Erice’s narrow, winding streets are so beautiful that they could be visual lessons for architects. Visitors should also stop by the Quartieri Spagnoli, where Spanish soldiers and merchants lived in the 18th century. In addition to its beautiful Spanish-style houses, Quartieri Spagnoli is the “heart” of Erice’s community activities, and a place for visitors to buy hand-woven rugs and traditional ceramics as souvenirs.
Erice Castle, perched precariously on the top of a mountain, has long been a popular tourist destination in Sicily. In Greek mythology, Mount Erice was considered the “sacred land” of the goddess Aphrodite, and there was a temple to Aphrodite on the top of the mountain as early as the 10th century BC. After the Normans conquered southern Italy in the late 12th century, they built a fortress on the site of the old temple. The fortress has changed hands many times, and each dynasty has left its own mark. Many mountaineering visitors choose Erice Castle as the end point of their journey to conquer the top of Erice. An afternoon visiting the castle, followed by watching the sunset over the sea, will wash away all the fatigue of the climber.
In the Middle Ages, monks living in the monasteries on Mount Erice made their living by making sweets. Their recipes spread over time and Erice became a famous region for traditional sweets. First of all, there is dolci ericini, a type of almond cake filled with lemon jam. Or genovesi ericine - soft biscuits made from flour, honey and cloves, filled with custard cream and dusted with powdered sugar. And finally, frutta martorana, almond candies shaped and colored to look like real fruit.
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