Page 488 - The Rough Guide of Sicily

Boat tours and diving The waters offshore of the reserve have some excellent dive
sites, with wrecks and grottoes to explore; Cetaria, Via Marco Polo 3, Scopello (
368 386 4808, cetaria.it), offer dives, boat excursions and equipment rental.

ACCOMMODATION

Baglio La Luna Via del Secco 11 335 836 2856, bagliolaluna.com. Seven
kilometres out of San Vito on the Zingaro road, so ideal for forays into the reserve,
this rural B&B boasts lofty views from its terrace and complete tranquillity. The airy
whitewashed interior with tiled floors has five simple rooms – those with sea views
cost €10 extra. You’ll need your own transport to stay here, and there’s a two-night

minimum stay in Aug. No credit cards. Closed Nov–March. €110

Casale Corcella Contrada Scardina 368 365 4482, scopelloonline.com. Ideal for
walkers, this is located 1km north of Scopello, within the Zingaro reserve. Five
simple, cheerful and spotlessly clean rooms and five mini apartments. No credit cards.
Closed Nov–March. Rooms and apartments €80

< Back to Trapani and the west

Segesta

Set amid deserted green countryside around 15km south of Castellammare del Golfo
(and 30km east of Trapani), the remains of the ancient city of Segesta are among the

most inspiring on the island. All that still stands is a Doric temple and a brilliantly
sited theatre, relics of a city whose roots – like Erice’s – lie back in the twelfth
century BC. Unlike Erice, though, ancient Segesta was eventually Hellenized and spent
most of the later period disputing its border with Selinus. The temple dates from a
time of prosperous alliance with Athens, but it was never finished – work on it was

abandoned when a new dispute broke out with Selinus in 416 BC.

Apart from the small café and shop at the site, the café-restaurant near the signposted
turn-off is the only nearby place for refreshments, and the only accommodation
hereabouts is in the nearby town of Calatafimi. Concerts and plays are staged at
Segesta’s theatre between mid-July and early September. Ask at the tourist offices in

Palermo and Trapani for details, or call 800 904 60. Special excursion buses leave
from both cities to coincide with the performances, and tickets for the various
productions cost around €15.

The site

Daily 9am–1hr before sunset; last entry 1hr before closing • €6, or €9 including the ruins at Selinunte • Half-hourly
buses (€1.50) run from the site entrance to the theatre
The site is best seen early or late in the day, when visitors are fewer and the light less