Trapani, Sicily captured my heart when I visited Italy.  This city was originally built to be the port city for ancient Erice, which overlooks Trapani from Erice Mountain. When I found out that I could visit Erice by cable car (known as the funivia) , I knew I just had to visit. (Note: the cable car is closed from mid-January to mid-March, but there is a bus that goes to Erice.)

I was not disappointed. This romantic town made me feel like I had stepped back in time. Not only did this midieval town offer staggering views, it had two castles, quiet cobblestone lanes that I wandered without seeing another soul (though, I’ve heard it can get crowded in the Summer), adorable shops, and some of the best gelato I’ve ever tasted.

There is a sacred feeling in Erice, and it’s no wonder. There was a temple of Venus here that used to entice many to climb Erice’s summit.

Along with the castles, there were a lot of churches in Erice. My favorite thing was just walking around and watching the village people live their lives.

The buildings were stunning and so full of character. I expected the characters from The Princess Bride to appear any second. The only sound was the birds singing. The air smelled fresh and clean. I exhaled deeply with the joy of this place.

One of the views you will see from Erice is that of the famous Trapani salt flats. You can buy the flaky salt in many of the shops around Erice.

The food in Erice was some of the best food I ate in all of Sicily.  I also found some of the best gelato I’ve ever had at  L’Arte del Gelato. It was a Cassata Siciliana gelato inspired by the famous cake that comes from Palermo. I also had the Chocantinno Amarena (cherry and chocolate). It was positively decadent!

If you want to try the Cassata Siciliana cake (highly recommended!), Erice is most famous for its pastry shops, so you won’t have a problem finding it or any of the other traditional Sicilian sweets.

When visiting Erice, it can get very windy, so wear warm clothes and comfortable shoes for navigating the slick cobblestones. Also, there are several hotels in Erice, so if you just can’t pull yourself away you can spend days in this mystical town.