It looks like a painting, Calatafimi Segesta, more than 300 meters above sea level where each building, like a brushstroke, adds a touch of color to the green hills of the myth.
There are Segesta, Heracles and Aeneas, the Emirate and then the Kingdom of Sicily, up to the Battle of Calatafimi, which takes us back to the modern world, from the Unification of Italy to today, when Calatafimi Segesta becomes a center to visit, with monuments, museums and traditions all to be (re)discovered.
The story of Calatafimi Segesta
The story of Calatafimi begins in the myth, because it is said that near the Bath of Segesta he stopped to rest Heracles son of Zeus, after Twelve Labors. Mythical land, this, because it also passed through here Aeneas, founding Acesta, from where Calatafimi seems to have originated, the Castrum Phimes o Kalat-al-Fimi.
The Middle Ages witnessed the transformation of the Castrum into an Emirate, until the XNUMXth century, a period in which the center developed both from a military point of view and saw its symbol in the Euphemius Castle. Its great defensive strength also persisted in the transition to the Kingdom of Sicily, under Roger the Norman. The feud then passed into the hands of the Aragonese in the XNUMXth century.
From the sixteenth to the nineteenth century, the feud was owned by Count of Modica, while after the Battle of Pianto Romano, Garibaldi handed over the town of Calatafimi to the Kingdom of Sardinia and then to the Kingdom of Italy.
The history of the twentieth century was marked by the tragic earthquake of Belice, in 1968, which led to the division of the center, with the birth of the new town, separated from the ancient village of Calatafimi.
Calatafimi, what to see
A tour of Calatafimi Segesta, like a journey back in time, will take you back to Segesta on the via del Tempio and to the Thermal Baths, on the traces of Heracles: to visit these places distant in time, but not in space, you can stay in the village, then discovering all the ancient beauties of the village. The Euphemius Castle it is the cradle of this ancient town, in what is now Via Belvedere. Here the remains of the ancient fortress, which once surrounded the village, are still visible.
Another stop in the village is at the Mother Church of San Silvestro Papa, which takes us to the XNUMXth century, but also tells the baroque history of the village; then proceed towards the Church of St. Michael the Archangelof sixteenth-century style. The sacred tour in Calatafimi Segesta continues towards the Church of the Most Holy Crucifix, where several miracles took place in the XNUMXth century and where marvelous works of art are still kept today, such as the paintings of Mercury.
The eighteenth century breaks into Calatafimi Segesta with the Baroque style of the Sanctuary of Maria Santissima di Giubino, the last sacred building that we point out to you in the centre, where you can have fun discovering the many other churches that are in the town and in the surrounding area.
Finally, we come to the XNUMXth century, where Calatafimi Segesta meets Garibaldi and the Thousand, who, beating the Bourbon army in the Battle of Pianto Romano, deliver the center to the Kingdom of Italy, leaving a Monument-Memorial to the Battle of Calatafimi , Garibaldi House-Museum in the village, where history buffs can enter the rooms that welcomed the Hero of the Two Worlds. The XNUMXth century also gives Calatafimi Segesta the Felice Cavallotti Municipal Theatre.
By following the traces of this route, you will also be able to discover all the other beauties of the village!
What to do in Calatafimi Segesta, Trapani, Erice and surroundings
Events and flavors in Calatafimi Segesta
If you are curious to discover the best products of the area, the tastiest recipes and typical dishes, here are some small suggestions: try the cheeses and fish dishes, but don't forget the pizza and cold cuts. The traditional desserts are very tasty, from the Sicilian cannolo to the cassata.
Think about organizing one holiday in Calatafimi Segesta, but don't know when to leave? The village is about 19 km from Castellammare del Golfo, so in the summer you can also enjoy splendid beaches, but if you want to discover the traditions of Calatafimi, book in the months between July and September, to participate in the Calatafimi Segesta Dionysiac Festival, the incredible theatrical event that takes place in the Archaeological Park of Segesta, or reach the village in June, to attend theInfiorata of Calatafimi, At the Feast of Corpus Christi. The Feast of the Most Holy Crucifix, on the other hand, is an event that takes place in the village every 5 years, in the month of May.
How is it possible to get to Calatafimi Segesta
Calatafimi Segesta, in the province of Trapani, can be reached by car or train. In the car, from the A29 Alcamo-Trapani take the exit for Segesta, just 4 km from the centre, while on the train get off at Castelvetrano station (27km away) and continue the journey by bus or private shuttle.
© Image by Francescodibartolo80, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
