Capaci: Historic Centre, Coast and Archaeology

Capaci appeals to you through several clearly distinct facets: historic architecture, archaeological connections, coastline and local cuisine. Couples and families with different interests can therefore set different priorities. When planning your trip, what matters most is which of these themes you want to shape your stay.

Historic Centre and Cultural Sites

The historic centre of Capaci features monumental Baroque architecture. One prominent building is the Chiesa Madre: it was built between 1741 and 1743 and has an octagonal floor plan. The Chiesa Madre houses frescoes painted by Giuseppe Trisca in 1744. The Chiesa di San Rocco and the Castello Pilo are considered sights of particular interest in Capaci.

The Casa museo Villa Africa presents traditional African art, as well as statues, masks and everyday household objects. Those interested in culture will therefore find not just a single theme here, but several clearly distinguishable subjects.

Archaeological Traces of Capaci

The archaeological perspective begins with the necropolis in Contrada Ciachea, which bears witness to the area's early human settlement. The caves at Pizzo Muletta are of great archaeological significance because they were used during prehistoric, Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic times. Grotta della Paglia has yielded fragments of black-glazed Greek pottery dating from the 6th to the 5th century BC.

The archaeological term “stile di Capaci” refers to a classification of ways of life in western Sicily that are closely connected with those in eastern Sicily. For interested non-specialists, this shows that Capaci is associated not only with individual historic sites, but also with a regional archaeological context. The chronological range of the caves and the finds from Grotta della Paglia give this subject area various points of historical connection.

Coast, Beach and Arrival

Capaci is a seaside resort on the coast of Isola delle Femmine. Spiaggia libera di Capaci is the municipality's only free beach and is also known as “Tien An Men”. You can reach the free beach via the A29 towards Trapani; take the Capaci exit. When choosing accommodation, you can weigh this coastal aspect against your interest in historical or archaeological themes.

A Local Taste

Cuisine is also one of Capaci's distinct facets. In Capaci, Vastedda is a typical bread seasoned with olive oil, anchovies, Caciocavallo and pepper.

Choose Accommodation According to Your Interests

When choosing a hotel or other accommodation, the weighting you want to give to each aspect is more helpful than a generalised expectation: should culture, archaeology, the coast or cuisine be the focus of your trip? This question gives your planning a clear direction without reducing Capaci to just one facet. Especially when travelling with people who have different preferences, this makes it possible to decide which priority should determine your choice of where to stay.

For further planning of your trip to Italy, you can also explore Sommariva, Vicari, Castellana Sicula, Lercara Friddi, Montelepre, Corleone, Torre Colonna-Sperone and Isola Delle Femmine.

For the higher-level travel overview: Palermo.