Page 505 - The Rough Guide of Sicily

you decide to base yourself near Valderice or Bonagia.

Valderice and Bonagia

Between Trapani and San Vito Lo Capo, 40km away, two wide gulfs – Bonagia and
Cofano – are backed by holiday homes and small plantations, overlooked both by the

heights of Erice and by its lower neighbour VALDERICE, a ribbon development
occupying a prominent ridge. From Valderice, a minor road winds 5km down to the
coast at BONAGIA, where the old tuna fishery has been converted into a hotel that’s
well worth considering for anyone travelling with children.

ACCOMMODATION: VALDERICE AND BONAGIA

Baglio Santa Croce SS187, Km 12.3 0923 891 111, bagliosantacroce.it. A
glorious renovation of a seventeenth-century stone-built estate, some 1km outside
Valderice, whose rooms have beamed ceilings, exposed walls, tiled floors and iron
bedsteads (other rooms are in the modern annexe). There’s a pool, a renowned

restaurant and superb views to the coast. €130

Lido ValdErice 0923 573 477 or 349 854 2190, campinglidovalderice.it.
Located close to the sea and a couple of good bars, this is a small but clean and
friendly campsite. It’s connected by up to six buses a day from Trapani’s bus terminal,
a 30min ride, then a 5min walk from the bus stop. Closed Nov–Feb. Camping €4.90 per
person, plus €7.90 per tent

Tonnara di Bonagia Piazza Tonnara di Bonagia, Valderice 0923 431 111,

tonnaradibonagia.it. Occupying the mellow buildings of an old tuna fishery, this is a
perfect base for a pool-and-beach summer holiday. There is an excellent pool, and
activities for children in summer. Paths lead to miniature rocky coves for those who
prefer to swim in the sea. Accommodation is in either hotel rooms or self-catering

apartments. Rooms €140

San Vito Lo Capo

With its dense ranks of trattorias, hotels and bars, SAN VITO LO CAPO is certainly
geared to holiday consumers, but its comparative remoteness has helped to stave off
the worst pressures of the tourist industry, even in high season. All the same, you’ll
have a lot more elbowroom outside the peak months – the best time to appreciate the
town’s beach, one of Sicily’s finest.

Running down to the beach, San Vito’s long shop- and restaurant-lined main strip, the
pedestrianized Via Savoia, is the focus of the evening passeggiata, with its shops
staying open late in summer. It holds one sight worth a glance: the curious, square and
fortified-looking Santuario (concerts are held outside in summer; check posters