Balestrate beach

La Balestrate beach it contains some aspects that are truly worth remembering. It is a highly iconic place in Sicily, located in the town of the same name with 6000 inhabitants in the metropolitan city of Palermo.
After knowing the history of the place, here are the most interesting aspects of a coast with which many Sicilian citizens have chosen to identify themselves.

Origins and history of Balestrate Beach

Balestrate Beach is also known by its ancient name Sicciara, taken from the Sicilian translation of sepia. Not surprisingly, it includes numerous molluscs of this species. In 1307, the town of Balestrate was united with Partinico, except for a strip of land with a geographical appearance similar to a crossbow shot and located between two streams. It was King Ferdinand of Aragon who attributed perfect autonomy to that small territory.

In the same area, in the seventeenth century there was one tonnara remained under royal law for over a century, even though it had previously belonged to Nicolò de Leofante, adviser to the ruler of Aragon Alfonso the Magnanimous. Numerous families took control of the town, from the Bologna to the Leto, from the Santoro to the Gesugrande. Several prominent personalities acted to ensure that Sicciara became a municipality in its own right.

Balestrate took on its current name by decree of King Ferdinand of Bourbon, following the merger between Sicciara and Trappeto. In 1954, Trappeto became an independent municipality and Balestrate incorporated only Sicciara. Starting from 2008, the locality has also added to its extension some sections belonging to the Municipality of Partinico.

What to know about Balestrate Beach

Balestrate Beach is absolutely not a banal coastline. It includes various inside bathing facilities near the Jato river, not far from Cala della Forgia and from the adjoining one Forgitella. Despite the surrounding urbanization, the beach maintains its naturalistic and highly exotic charm intact. The coast is low and sandy and doest the town's small port, while the beach is characterized by a pure, blue sea.

What to do at Balestrate Beach and in the surrounding area

Those who intend to live a memorable experience at Balestrate Beach have so many activities to do. In fact, the shallow waters are excellent for having a good swim even if you don't know how to swim very well, just as they are perfect for the little ones. At the same time, just move towards Forgitella to access various accommodation facilities and discover the delights of typical local dishes.

The town of Balestrate includes numerous points of interest, such as the Church of Sant'Anna, the remains of the Calatacupuni castle and Sicciara tower and a long series of ancient buildings. It doesn't take much to fully experience the wonders of Gulf of Castellammare. Furthermore, the nearby municipalities of Partinico, Trappeto and Alcamo are worth visiting.

How to get to Balestrate

The town of Balestrate can be reached by car taking the homonymous exit from the A29 motorway, and then traveling another 2 kilometers and arriving at the centre. By train, the stations of Punta Raisi and Piraineto are available, both 17-18 kilometers from the Palermo town.

© Image by Marco Tarantino, CC BY-SA 3.0 - Marco Tarantino, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons