Alcamo.
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Overview

Alcamo is a town in the Trapani province of western Sicily.

The climate is mild and its central position on the Gulf of Castellammare offers views of Mount Bonifato and the vineyard-covered rolling hills of the surrounding countryside. If you are at Alcamo Marina it is still possible to behold sand dunes.

The combination of town, mountain, country, beach and sea makes for a vacation full of contrasts.

Understand

When to go Alcamo is practically full of opportunities all the year round: in winter you can take advantage of Christmas events to visit the monuments in the town centre and the places of its "movida" (pubs, bars and pizzerias in particular), while in summer it is possible to walk along the promenade full of very good pizzerias too.

It is also a good idea to visit the town in June so you can take part in the celebrations in honour of Madonna of Miracles (Most Holy Mary of Miracles) or in spring if you wish to take advantage of the mild climate and visit the Nature Reserve and the ancient ruins on Mount Bonifato.

Though people think that Alcamo were founded by Arabs during the Middle Ages, the excavations in the surrounding territory confirm that there were already settlements near the present town in prehistoric times. Before the arrival of Arabs there were two villages: the first one, Longuro, was on Mount Bonifato, while the second, called Longarico, was near the present built-up areas.

When the Arabs arrived at the village, they saw it was semi-desert and so they founded Alcamo. Afterwards the town passed under the dominion of Normans and Swabians. In time the old mosques were substituted by Catholic churches and only the ancient Arab fountain, still running, and the name of the town, whose meaning is uncertain, remained.

The built-up areas became a well fortified feud thanks to the construction of the Castle of the Counts of Modica and the walls surrounding the present town centre.

In the following centuries Alcamo progressively developed from the cultural point of view, both for literature (whose most important representative is the poet Cielo d’Alcamo) and the artistic production; in fact there are very important sculptures and paintings inside its churches, especially in the Cathedral (Chiesa Madre) where an art museum has been opened in order to collect some of these masterpieces.

Owing to its particular geographical position (with Mount Bonifato in the south and the Gulf of Castellammare in the north) a lot of streets have an inclination from the mountain, in the south, towards the sea, in the north. Mount Bonifato and the coastline are also two excellent points of reference because they can be seen from any place in town.

Corso 6 Aprile is very important: it is known by its citizens as “il Corso”(or lu Cassaru in dialect). This main street starts from the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and finishes at Porta Palermo; on the way you will also pass the Church of Saints Paul and Bartholomew baroque church with its rich interior and Piazza Ciullo, which is full of young people at night.

In Piazza Ciullo (called “the Square” or “la Chiazza” in dialect), you can see the Town Hall, the Church of the Jesuits' College (Chiesa del Collegio) which is in the middle of the square and has a big round clock, Saint Olivia’s Church, restaurants and sandwich bars. Going towards Chiesa del Collegio and turning on the left, you will arrive at Piazza della Repubblica, where you can admire the Castle of Counts of Modica and find also a large car park.

At Piazza Ciullo the main street (Corso) has a sudden narrowing: starting from this point it is called the “Narrow Corso” (“Cassaru Strittu" in dialect). The Cathedral (Chiesa Madre) is here; if you go straight on, you will reach the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi and finally the end of the Main Street coinciding with Porta Palermo which opens onto Piazza Bagolino, called the "Bastione" (or "lu Bastiuni"in dialect) owing to its high walls of defence surrounding the square. This is delimited by a sidewalk from where you can admire, above all at sunset, a very striking view, together with the coastline of Alcamo Marina. Going down Piazza Bagolino, after two turnings, you will get to a large square where you can admire the ancient Arab fountain. On its right there is a paved pathway leading to the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Mary of Miracles, which can be reached on foot through this paved road, or by car through a narrow street nearby.

Starting from Piazza Pittore Renda, with Corso 6 Aprile behind, you can go round a roundabout (with the small Church of Our Lady of Graces in its middle) and arrive at Viale Italia which ends with another roundabout (known as "La Rotonda" par excellence). If you turn left you will get to Viale Europa where there are several interesting bars in which it is possible to taste some typical local recipes. By taking one of the right streets (Via Monte Bonifato in particular) you will arrive at the Nature Reserve on Mount Bonifato, while if you go ahead you will get to a crossroads, and by turning left you will first meet the Church of Saint Mary of Jesus (Chiesa di Santa Maria di Gesù) and then a small roundabout with a statue of Saint Francis in the middle.

From this roundabout you can go to Piazza Bagolino (by turning right and through Via Florio) or to Piazza della Repubblica, turning on the left.

Get in

Palermo-Punta Raisi Airport. You can reach Alcamo, at about 42 km, through the A29 Motorway (towards Trapani, junction for Alcamo Est). The airport is linked by train or shuttle bus to Alcamo. You can get the train going from Punta Raisi to Castellammare del Golfo railway station.

Trapani-Birgi Airport. You can get to Alcamo through the A29 Motorway Trapani-Punta Raisi and going out at the junction for Alcamo. Shuttle bus services are carried out by Terravision and Salemi for Trapani and Palermo. Seasonal touristic flights also in summer.

By car From Palermo: you can reach Alcamo by taking the Autostrada A29 Palermo-Mazara del Vallo (a motorway) as far as the junction Alcamo Est (about 64 km). From Trapani: along a branch of A29 (direction Palermo and as far as the motorway junction Alcamo Ovest) or the highway 113 (about 52 km).

Between the junction Alcamo Est and Alcamo Ovest there is another motorway junction, for the neighbouring town of Castellammare del Golfo.

These motorways have two lanes and an emergency carriageway; people don't have to pay any toll but there are no petrol stations in these motorways. However, you can refuel in the towns near the motorways.

The nearest railway stations are Alcamo Diramazione (at about 7 km from the town, near the junction Alcamo ovest) and the station of Castellammare del Golfo (located at Alcamo Marina, about 5 km from the town centre).

Flixbus. Buses from Rome, Puglia, Basilicata and Villa San Giovanni

Segesta autolinee. Bus service from Palermo, Trapani, Partinico and Terrasini.

Tarantola bus. Buses from nearby Castellammare del Golfo, Calatafimi-Segesta and Vita.

Get around

In the town centre you can easily move on foot, leaving the car in the large car parks at Piazza Bagolino and Piazza della Repubblica. If you want to visit the near hamlet of Alcamo Marina or the Nature Reserve on Mount Bonifato, it is possible to use a taxi or car rent services. You can visit the ruins of the Ventimiglia Castle, the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Mary from the Height and the remains of the old settlement.

Io guido. Car-sharing: one-way or standard bookings. With access to ZTL areas and no limits to antipollution measure, free parking on blue areas, authorized to transit in the lanes reserved to public transport.

Noleggio Pullman Reginella. Town bus service and for Alcamo Marina and the railway station.

Taxi Transfer Gaetano Bonventre. Taxi Transfer Gaetano Bonventre

Nstonline Taxi & Transfer. Taxi, shuttle service to and from Trapani Birgi Airport and San Vito Lo Capo.

Taxi Service Trasfert di Sandro Carrara. Car rental with driver. Airports, hospital and other services by arrangement.

Francesco Rent Srl. Car rental for Palermo, Trapani and Catania airports; rental cars at Balestrate/Trappeto, Scopello, Castellammare del Golfo. Cerimony cars hiring in Alcamo, Trapani, Palermo, Castellammare del Golfo.

Noleggio Pullman Reginella. Bus and minibus.

See

Arab fountain. It is an ancient structure for providing fresh water to people and livestock still working, built during the period of Arab rule.

Arab Watchtower. Ancient watchtower built by Saracens at about 980 AD. Inside it there are a characteristic stone winding staircase with 85 steps and a big cistern.

Funtanazza. A very old architectonic work which was probably used as a water reservoir, but according to some people it was a thermal plant. It has a rectangular plan with pillars sustaining a barrel vault, similar to the Moorish fountains of the northern coasts in Africa.

Cuba delle Rose. A cistern built by Arabs, about one thousand years ago, which served the inhabitants of Calatubo. It was restored some years ago.

The Castle of the Counts of Modica. Probably built in the 14th or 15th century by the Peralta family, and then completed by the feudatories Enrico and Federico Chiaromonte. In 1535, the emperor Charles V lodged here. It was a possession of the Cabreras and then of the Counts of Modica, until 1812. Later, during the Italian Kingdom and until 1960, it was used as a prison. It has a rhomboidal shape, with four towers: two quadrangular ones at the corners and the other two are connected by curtains and are cylindrical. In each tower there was a torture room for prisoners, the rooms for sentinels and for passing guest sovereigns. One of the particular characteristics of the castle is given by the thick walls which bound it and defended from enemies' attacks in old times .

Castle of Ventimiglia. A medieval castle; as of 2020, there are only some parts of the walls, the primary tower and the dungeons. It took the name from Enrico Ventimiglia, who had built it only for defence.

The Castle of Calatubo. A fortress built in the early Middle Ages. The village of Calatubo stood nearby and its commerce was based on the exportation of cereals and millstones. In the same place there is an old necropolis, dating back to the 6th century BC.

Other historical buildings There are several historical civil buildings in Alcamo:

Casa De Ballis. It was built in the 16th century and has a square tower with battlements, adorned with a round arch that contains two windows, one twin lancet and one triple lancet; probably designed in 1490 by brothers Tommaso and Pietro Oddo.

House of Cielo d'Alcamo. A popular legend says that here lived the famous poet Ciullo d'Alcamo, a native writer of this city. On the façade, there is the main door and an arched window, realized with limestone travertinoide. Above the door you can see a decoration in high relief, with a compass and a delineator in its middle, between two big drakes ridden by two small angels with a trident in their hands.

Pia Opera Pastore. Designed by the architect Giovan Battista Palazzotto in 1872, the building is in a neoclassical style, with triangular windows. On the main door, there is the family coat of arms represented with a sheperd's crook, three stars and a tower.

Palazzo Fraccia. In baroque style, it was built about the year 1700. Above the balcony, there is the family coat of arms: an injured heart surmounted by a crown.

Palazzo Rocca. It was built about the year 1629. Its portals and brackets are made with carved stones.

Palazzo Rossotti-Chiarelli. Built in the 18th century, it has a portal, railings and balconies in a baroque style.

Palazzo Peria. Built in about the year 1700; this palace has two floors and has been restored with the Livigni method.

Palazzo Di Gregorio. It was built about the 17th century in a neoclassical style.

Palazzo Patti. Built in the 18th century, it has been totally restored internally. On the ground floor, there are three entrances, today leading into three shops, and an arch at the beginning of via Pipitone Cangialosi. The portal has two decorated lenses. The openings in the balconies are surmounted by a stone fronton.

Town Hall. Built in 1843, its façade is in neoclassical style: on the ground floor, there are two windows with arches and the main door. On the first and second floor, there are three balconies with stone brackets and galleries. On both sides of the central balcony of the second floor, there are two tondos: on the right one there is an eagle, which represents the coat of arms of the town.

Palazzo Ferrara. In a classical style, it was built in 1909 by the brothers Benedetto and Graziano Ferrara. The main façade is rusticated, with three round-arched openings. The main balcony is supported by brackets of limestone travertinoide, and has a wrought iron railing.

Palazzo Pastore. Built at the end of the 18th century in neoclassical style: some elements of the façade are similar to those of the Basilica and Palazzo Di Gregorio in via Dante.

Villa Luisa. Built in 1903, it is an elegant villa probably in Liberty style; it took the name of his owner’s wife, Stefano Chiarelli Peria. It is very similar to Villa Paino in Palermo, also belonging to the family Chiarelli Rossotti, and whose plan is assigned to the engineer Francesco Naselli of Ernesto Basile school.The mansion has been used as a dance hall and for wedding parties in the 1970s, then as a nursery school in the 1980s. Today, after the restoration made in 1980, it has become a refined household.

Monument to Cielo d'Alcamo. Inside Mariano Cassarà's garden (a sculptor), now his heirs' property, you can see the monument (with a fountain) realized in 1990 for the Town of Alcamo and that, after various vicissitudes, postponements and missing payments by all the civic administrations, has remained in the ownership of the artist.The work faithfully represents the scene of the famous love Contrasto "Rosa Fresca Aulentissima" written in 1240 by Cielo d'Alcamo, considered the first Italian poet who used the vernacular. The central body includes the two bronze statues representing the poet and his beloved; they are surrounded by an artistic marble fountain (travertine, completed with the insignia of Alcamo in the back part of the monument).In the garden you can also admire other works realized by Mariano Cassarà.

Sacred Art Museum. The museum hosts a lot of paintings, sculptures and jewels coming from churches, dating back to the period from the 13th and 19th centuries, for a total of 150 works that are exhibited in an area of about . These works had been sheltered there after the 1968 Belice earthquake by monsignore Vincenzo Regina, archpriest from 1944 to 1991.

Museum of Multiethnic Musical Instruments "Fausto Cannone". There are 202 musical instruments: rebab, sarinda, gansira, swarpeti, bansuri, takita, marambao, vojnica, iakir and many others collected all over the world by the music teacher Fausto Cannone from Alcamo; there are instruments and sounds coming from different peoples: from Thailand to Tibet, from New Guinea to South America, from Polynesia to China, from Australia to Argentina, South Africa and various European countries.

Museum of Contemporary Art. The museum is divided into various sections: you can see the paintings of Turi Simeti, Vito Bongiorno, Gisella Giovenco, the plaster casts of Nicola Rubino and other works.

The Nature Oriented Reserve. A protected area on Mount Bonifato with remarkable natural, historical, archeological and geological interest. Inside it there are the ruins of an ancient hamlet (among which are "Funtanazza" and "Porta Regina"), the remains of the Castle of the Ventimiglia and the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Mary from the Heights (Santuario della Madonna dell'Alto). You can also use a picnic area near the “Funtanazza”. They carry out several and different activities in the reserve such as Nordic walking, mountain biking, trekking, birdwatching, and creative and didactic research.

Parco Suburbano San Francesco. The park is managed by the Association "Laurus" of Alcamo. Thanks to its volunteers, this green lung with hundreds of plants of the Mediterranean flora, gives the chance to children and adults to relax in the middle of its green. Inside there are a children's playground and a small zoo farm.

Geosite Travertino della Cava Cappuccini. In the Geosite, dating back to Pleistocene, they discovered the fossilized shell of a tortoise, Geochelone sp, the skeleton of a dwarf elephant, dating back to 260,000 years ago, and some specimens of the giant edible dormouse, red deer and wild boar, kept at the Civic Museum Torre di Ligny of Trapani .

Roman furnaces. The site is about 2,500 square metres wide; in 2000 they discovered three furnaces, built between the 1st century AD and the second half of the 5th century AD. They have a circular shape, with a diameter of about 3 m and with an unusual state of preservation. At the moment it cannot be visited.

Archeological Site of Mount Bonifato (or Longuro). Founded by a colony of Greeks escaped from Troy, and probably inhabited from the 7th century BC until the 12th century AD, it was discovered in the second half of the 16th century. They found lanterns and stamps of bricks dating back to the Roman age, some tomb caves, several ceramic and bronze fragments.

Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta. Realized during the 14th century and rebuilt in 1669; the portal and the bell tower are the only remains from the original church of the 14th century. It is located in the centre of the town, near piazza Ciullo. The interior contains frescoes by Guglielmo Borremans. In the apse and in the side chapels there are works by Antonello Gagini,

Church of Saint Francis of Assisi. It was built between the years 1224-1226, demolished and rebuilt between 1608-1648. Inside it there are a marble ancon, probably by Domenico Gagini, and two sculptures reproducing the Maddalena and Saint Mark, both ascribed to Antonello Gagini.

Church of the College of Jesuits. It was built between 1684-1767.

Church of Saint Olivia. It was built in 1533 and renovated in 1724. Inside there are a picture by Pietro Novelli on the main altar ("Sacrificio della Messa" dated 1639) and works by the Gagini.

Church of Saints Paul and Bartholomew. Built between 1615 and 1689: it has got characteristic baroque features and holds a very ancient and valuable picture, the Madonna del Miele (made about the year 1300).

Church of Saint Mary of Jesus. Built in the 15th century and enlarged in 1762. It holds the body of Beato Arcangelo Piacentini from Calatafimi.

Sanctuary of Madonna of Miracles. The sanctuary, dedicated to the patroness of Alcamo, was built in 1547 by order of the governor and captain of justice Fernando Vega, and following the discovery of an icon of Madonna of Miracles in a small chapel which had been abandoned. Afterwards the sanctuary was modified several times, with a restoration in the first years of the 18th century.

Church of Saint Thomas. The date of its construction is uncertain, probably the first half of the 15th century. It is faced by a great portal with geometrical decorations.

The Convent of Saint Francis of Paola. Not to be confused with the church of the same name, it was built in 1531, demolished in 1699 and rebuilt in the first half of the 18th century. There are a picture by Pietro Novelli and some allegorical representations by Giacomo Serpotta.

Saints Cosma and Damiano's Church. Built in 1500 and rebuilt between 1721-1725.It has a baroque style and inside there are two sculptures by Serpotta.

Ex Church of the Annunciation. Built in the 14th century, in 16th and 17th centuries it was rebuilt in the Catalan Gothic style, but collapsed in 1866. Today, only some chapels and columns remain.

Church of Saint Francis of Paola. The church was built in 1550, with one nave and has five altars. The façade, dated 1695, has a convex form, a typical characteristic of Rococo style. in 1750 it was embellished with stuccoes by Nicolò Curti. On the high altar there is the Crucifix, a wooden sculpture made by Francesco Marino from Trapani in the 19th century.

Church of Saint Anne. The church was built between 1630 and 1634, and the Capuchine friary between 1633 and 1636. In 1866 the friary was abolished. The church has a single nave, a baptistry and seven chapels, embellished by frescoes by Leonardo Mirabile and Giovanni Dato. The frescoes on the nave and the vault are by Eugenio Ligotti and Salvatore Gagliano from Palermo. There are several paintings by Fra Felice da Sambuca.

Church of the Guardian Angel or Sheltered People. The church is with one nave and was built in 1659 in Baroque style, with the adjoining "Convent boarding school for sheltered women", built in 1684. It was enlarged and embellished in the 18th century by the architect Giovanni Biagio Amico, and restored again in the 19th century.

The Holy Trinity's Church. The present church was buikt between 1746 and 1757, in substitution of an older one: it was consecrated in 1757. In 1771 it was embellished with stuccoes; it has one nave, three altars and a small chapel.

Church of the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Built in 1813, demolished and rebuilt in 1958. It has one nave: inside it there was a painting, dating back to 1854 and later missing, made by Raffaele Genovese from Palermo, representing the Holy Souls of Purgatory with Our Lady of Miracles above them, Saint Rocco and Saint Sebastian at the two sides.

The Holy Heart's Church. The real construction of this church started in 1982, it was completed in 1991 and consecrated in 1993. It has a single nave with a semicircular apse; the vault has the shape of an overturned boat. There are some mosaics and colorful stained glass windows.

Church of Jesus Christ the Redeemer. Built in 2006. It is the most recent church in Alcamo; there are three original works realized by the sculptor Massimiliano Apicella: Jesus Christ the Redeemer, the altar made with Carrara white marble and the red marble ambo.

Ex College of Jesuits. Built in the 17th century, in the 18th century they added an arcade. Inside the oratory, there are some 18th-century frescoes by Domenico La Bruna. Today it is the seat of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Alcamo (MACA) and of the Civic Library.

Church of the Holy Family.. The church has a single navy with three altars: the high altar (in white marble and adorned by red stucco columns) and two side altars, in polychromatic marble, realized and inaugurated in 1937. Until 1952 on the high altar there was a painting made by Giuseppe Renda, now in the sacristy, substituted by a wooden statue of the Holy Family, realized by the firm Luigi Santifaller.

Church of Saint Joseph the Worker. Built in 1947, it has one nave with a barrel lowered vault; the church has an elegant façade, in the neo-Romanesque style, with a rose window in the middle and a portal below it.

Do

Associazione Culturale Musikè. Exhibitions, concerts, courses of music and singing; they also organize dinners and guided visits to the Palazzo de Ballis and its tower.

Associazione Laurus cultura ambiente. Guided tours by bike, on foot, trekking: Castle of Calatubo, Mount Bonifato, Alcamo Town Centre.

Centro Congressi Marconi. Classical music concerts, meetings and exhibitions.

Centro Ippico Lo Sperone. Restaurant and riding school.

Cinema Esperia. There is a hall with comfortable seats on two levels (the stalls on the ground floor and the balcony on the first floor).

Cittadella dei Giovani and Anfiteatro Orto di Ballo. There is a recording hall: teenagers have also rooms and equipments at their disposal, in order to exploit their own natural, artistic, musical and scientific inclinations.

Civic Library "Bagolino". There are about 81,000 books and important old documents on art, tradition, craftmanship and religiosity of people in Alcamo. Some books come from ex convents and friaries and from the section of the History of Alcamo's territory. Inside it there is also the Multimedia Library with a lot of newspapers, film and music collections. You can also use the Internet for free. You can consult its OPAC.

La Fenice. Swimming pool, acquatic park, gym club.

Opera dei Pupi. Possibility of visiting the theatre of puppets and seeing some of them, working tools and posters. The shows are given in some periods of the year and they give notice.

Rush Speed Arena. Multilevel indoor track for electric karts. The track is 564 m long, 7 m wide with straightway and large bends. Takeaway food. Outdoor seats.

Stadio Comunale Lelio Catella. Football ground, tennis court and athletics track.

Starplace Multisala. Multiplex cinema, convention center, cultural center.

Teatro Comunale Cielo d'Alcamo (Civic Theatre). There is a hall with comfortable seats on two levels (the stalls on the ground floor and the balcony on the first floor).

Terme Gorga. Its sulphuric thermal waters are used to treat respiratory, rheumatic and skin diseases.

Whisky a Gogò. Classical dance, hip pop, break dance, Caribbean dance.

Saint Joseph. Celebration in honour of this Saint with novena and procession.

Passion of Christ. The pageant of Via Crucis, formed by 143 characters in historical costume, leaves at 16:00 from the Church of Saint Anne, then in Piazza della Repubblica there is the representation of the Last Supper, the process, the flagellation, etc. The pageant moves along Corso VI Aprile and Viale Italia, and stops at about 21:00 at Piazza Caduti di Nassiriya; here they represent the Crucifixion and Resurrection. This event is organized by the Pro Loco Città di Alcamo in collaboration with the Assessorato for Culture of the Comune.

Good Friday. Procession of the Dead Jesus and Our Lady of Sorrows.

Gesù Cristo Redentore Feast. On the first Sunday after Easter they organize different cultural and religious events in honour of the Divine Mercy.

San Francis from Paola. Second Sunday after Easter (cultural and religious events).

Feast of Patrocinio. In honour of the Holy Family (procession and lunch with the living Holy Family).

Saint Joseph the Worker. Celebration in honour of Saint Joseph the Worker with a novena and procession.

Saint Anthony of Padua. Celebration in honour of him (novena and procession)

Maria Santissima dei Miracoli. Celebrations in honour of the patroness saint of Alcamo: cultural and religious events. During the feast there are a solemn procession of Madonna’s simulacrum, fireworks from the "bastione" in Piazza Bagolino, and the descent of civil and political authorities to the sanctuary of Madonna dei Miracoli. Until the early 21st century, there were horse races along Corso 6 Aprile; the last two times they took place in Viale Italia.

Saint Ann's Feast. Novena, procession and cultural, recreative and religious activities.

Maria Santissima Assunta. 14 and 15 August: celebrations and procession on the beach.

Madonna dell'Alto. Celebrations on the top of Mount Bonifato (dialect poems recitation and procession).

the Immaculate Conception. Celebration in honour of Immacolata Concezione with a novena, pastoral melodies and procession.

Alcamo Christmas. Concerts, outdoor performances, preparation of traditional Christmas cribs and pipers' passing.

Alcamo Estate. Sagre, "Calici di Stelle", "Blues Festival", "Festival of Nuove Impressioni"

Alcart: legality and culture. Concerts, book presentations and photo exhibitions.

Cortiamo. Short Film International Contest.

Costa Gaia International Trophy. International football tournament for the young.

Alcamo Carnival. This event takes place on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday of Carnival. The carts parade in this large square, and there's also music, dancers, masks and street food.

Buy

Bontà rossa di Sicilia. Biological production of pomegranates (juice and fruit).

Bottega del Cioccolato. Chocolate maker: using cocoa that comes from Ecuador, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Venezuela; production of chocolate bars (milk or dark), pralines, cakes and single portion sweets.

Ceramiche Artistiche Ferrarella. Ceramics

Delizie. Delicatessen, local cheeses, takeaway gastronomy and butcher's shop.

Farmer's Market. There are a lot of farm products: fruit and vegetables.

Ficodindidia Ceramiche. Handicraft laboratory of Sicilian ceramics and sale of articles made with ceramics.

Galleria del Corso. There are some shops selling clothes, shoes and sport items.

La Baronessina Ceramiche. Artisan's laboratory and sale of local artistic ceramics.

Mercato Rionale. You can find clothes, shoes, fruit, vegetables, fish and cheese.

Vini Manfre' Enoteca. They sell different types of wine and liquors.

Eat

Most part of them serve pizza only in the evening: they sell it by the slice. You can have it on the spot or take away. It is a cheap way of having dinner.

L'Arcova. Pizzas by slices. Very frequented especially at night by teenagers, attracted by the smell of just-cooked pizza. There are outdoor tables.

Bar Grazia. Very famous for its snacks, especially arancini (filled with minced meat or ham). They also make very good sweets such as sfince di San Giuseppe (Saint Joseph’s fried sweets with ricotta inside).

Bar La Preferita. Good pastry. Its cassatelle with ricotta are excellent!

Bar '900. Famous for the high quality of its sweets, snacks and ice creams (among which the hazelnut ice cream, fried iris and ricotta bocconcini stand out). On the first floor there are tables and a terrace with tables and large sunshades; from here you can appreciate a beautiful view of Corso 6 Aprile.

Bis Bar. Very appreciated for its sweets production, snacks and ice creams. The interior is very cosy and has comfortable seats and large glass walls. Very good if you want to spend a relaxing evening with your friends.

Cafè Termine. Bar, pastries, ice-creams, snack-bar.

Dolce e Gustoso. Self-service, pizzeria, snack bar, coffee bar, sweets. Dinners for any occasions.

Esko Burger. Fast food and snacks. Located inside a charming garden, there are outdoor tables too. Italian and American cuisines. Take away service. Excellent food both in variety and quality. Waiters are kind and helpful. Also suitable for people who like outdoor evenings with friends.

Locanda dei Matti. Appetizers, brasserie, restaurant. Open during summer.

Madre Pizza. There are very different types of pizza by the slice, made with mother yeast (lievito madre).

Mondo Pizza. Here you can taste pizzas by the slice, calzoni, sandwiches and snacks. You can also buy "pizza al metro" if you are not satisfied with some centimetres of pizza.

Salato Polli. They make grilled chicken and gastronomy. Try the chicken with salmorigano (a special sauce with olive oil, garlic, oregano and lemon juice) with fried or roast potatoes. Simple and tasteful!

Il Gattopardo. Restaurant and pizzeria in the town centre, very near the Chiesa Madre and 18th century Palazzo Fraccia in a characteristic paved street. Its pizzas are cooked in a wood-burning oven.

La Faranna. Restaurant and pizzeria. On Saturday night you can dance here for free!

Lo Sperone. Restaurant and riding school.

Via Vivaldi. Restaurant and pizzeria. There is a children's area where they can play.

Hotel Centrale. Daily fixed menu or a particular one with meat or fish. Typical dishes prepared on request.

Drink

Old Street. GastroPub and Wine Bar. The place, in Mediterranean style, has several rooms and a fine courtyard in the middle. The menu is diversified and there are excellent wines and cocktails. The waiters are kind and quite fast. Free W-Fi, tables outdoor, booking not compulsory.

Sleep

Affittacamere Windsurf. There are flats and rooms air conditioned and a free private beach. The rooms have internal bathrooms, kitchen and TV, some have a balcony. It is 10 minutes' travel by car from Balestrate or Castellammare, and 20 minutes from the Nature Reserve "Lo Zingaro".

B & B Costapicca. At the foot of Mount Bonifato, the B&B Costapicca has a garden and offers free Wi-Fi connection. The rooms are air conditioned, with central heating, TV and a bathroom with a shower. A buffet continental breakfast, including hot coffee or cappuccino, sweets and other food will be served every morning.

B & B Rahal. The flats of B&B Rahal include air conditioning, kitchen, dining room, bathroom with a shower, Breakfast is based on coffee, croissants and biscuits. The structure is at about 8 km from the beaches of Alcamo Marina and Castellammare del Golfo, 40 km from Palermo Airport and 50 km from Trapani Birgi.

Casaulente. Its flats are air-conditioned and have an independent kitchen and a living area with sofa and TV. The private bathroom has a hairdryer and the car-park is free. The bed and breakfast is 500 m away from the Castle and about 50 km from Palermo and Trapani airports.

Residence Ideal. At the Residence Ideal in the town centre in Alcamo, the rooms are air conditioned, with free Wi-Fi and TV. The flats include a sitting room area with sofas and TV, Kitchen with an oven and a bathroom with as hower and a bidet. in some of them there is a terrace with an outdoor furnishings.

Affittacamere Francesca. It has a free car park. All rooms have conditioned air, Wi-Fi, TV and private bathroom. At dinner you can have Sicilian home-made specialities.

Agriturismo Fattoria Manostalla. The farm is an ancient baglio of the 19th century, belonging to Jesuits and used for praying. It is located in one of the most characteristic landscapes of rural Sicily, near the Castle of Calatubo. Its restaurant suggests typical products such as: olive oil, milk, cheese, ricotta, vegetables and milk, sheepmeat, beef and veal used to prepare old recipes and dishes.

Angimbè Relais Hotel. It is an old baglio that has been restored. The rooms are air conditioned and have Wi-Fi, TV, Sky channels and a private bathroom. In the morning, it offers a rich breakfast and at dinner you can taste some typical Sicilian food at the restaurant. There is an outdoor swimming pool you can use in summer and a free car park.

Baglio della Luna. An old baglio with rooms that are all elegantly furnished and in a different way.

Baglio Fastuchera. Baglio Fastuchera is on an old farm on the S.S. 119 (National Road 119) Alcamo-Gibellina. The rooms are furnished in a simple way and air conditioned, with TV and private bathroom with a hairdryer. At the restaurant they serve Sicilian dishes and a good breakfast.

Grand Hotel La Batia. It's in the outskirts of Alcamo and was a convent restored some years ago. The exclusive rooms are furnished with free Wi-Fi, TV and air conditioner. You can also choose Sicilian specialities and a continental breakfast. There are two outdoor swimming pools, a terrace, free outdoor parking and a garage.

Hotel Centrale. It's near the town centre and the places of movida. It has large rooms air-conditioned with TV and free Wi-Fi connection. The buffet breakfast includes sweet or salted food and you can taste Sicilian dishes at dinner. The structure is about 6 km from Alcamo Marina and about 20 km from Scopello and Zingaro.

La Battigia. It's in the middle of Alcamo Marina's beach, and has a wonderful view of the Gulf of Castellammare. It lodged the actors Brad Pitt and Catherine Zeta-Jones during the shooting of Ocean's Twelve, filmed in 2004 near Castellammare del Golfo. It has a swimming pool and private beach. In the menu there are fresh fish and local meat.There is also a large selection of typical sweets and wines. It's a 4-star hotel.

Villa Maruggi. It is at the foot of Mount Bonifato and is surrounded by a garden with very old trees. From its large terrace you can admire the Gulf of Castellammare. There are a living room, a kitchen, bathroom and a veranda on the ground floor. On the first floor there are: 3 double rooms, 1 single room and a bathroom. The house is furnished with conditioned air, oven, refrigerator, TV and ironing set; outside there are tables, chairs and a barbecue. The area is very tranquil and near Viale Europa (at 700 m distance) and to shops, bars and chemist.

Villa Vaiasuso. The rooms are in a house with a garden, at about 7 km from the beach and 3 km from Alcamo. There are a terrace, shared kitchen and bathrooms, a barbecue, a free car park. No animals allowed.

Villa 2 Pini. It's in Alcamo, and has an outdoor pool. This self-catering accommodation offers free Wifi, a patio and a seating area. There is also a kitchen with a dishwasher and a microwave oven. The bathrooms have a bath or a shower and a hairdryer. You can enjoy pool view and garden view. A barbecue and a free parking facilities are included.