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| The history of the area stretches back nearly 2500 years |
Santa Maria is in the west of Sicily, about 110km from the regional capital, Palermo. The area is rich with history and culture, giving you plenty of things to do.
Mazara del Vallo, the nearest town, is Italy's major fishing port. The historic centre is a delightful example of 17th century Norman baroque architecture.
The Piazza della Repubblica is one of the most beautiful baroque squares in Sicily and the Norman Baroque Cathedral is full of treasures: a Byzantine fresco, Roman sarcophagi and elaborate sculptures by the Gagini family. A recent arrival is the bronze statue of the “dancing satyr”, a masterpiece of Greek Classical art, discovered in the waters of the Sicilian Channel and now housed in its own museum. There are good shops in town, some of which offer excellent local ceramic ware.
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| The ornate Piazza della Repubblica, Mazara del Vallo |
Mazara is famous for its fish and seafood, and Western Sicily for its wines. Local restaurants offer the best of both and there is also a wide choice of informal, child-friendly trattorias and pizzerias.
A lovely promenade with palm trees is ideal for the evening passeggiata, to be savoured with an ice-cream from one of the many gelaterie. Sicilian ice-cream is the best!
Beyond Mazara del Vallo
Beyond the town there is plenty to see, including:
The 5th century B.C. ruins of Selinunte , a 30-minute drive away.
The beautiful temple and Greek theatre of Segesta .
Marsala with its Punic ship, the Garibaldi museum and a plethora of wine industries with opportunities for tasting the excellent local wines - not only Marsala!
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| The stunning Ancient Greek ruins of Selinunte |
Saltpans with windmills and the Phoenician island of Motya . The Whitaker Museum now hosts the 4th century B.C. Greek statue known as “Il Giovane di Motya”, one of the most exquisite works of art remaining from the Classical era.
Trapani , an ancient Greek port, now a thriving town, packed with churches from medieval to Baroque and the superb Pepoli Museum.
The Egadi islands - Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo, known for their lovely beaches and ideal for day trips.
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| Castle of Venus, Erice |
High above the port of Trapani sits Erice on the peak of the mountain. Once famous as the Mountain of Love, sacred to Venus, it has now taken on a medieval aspect; but you can still see the Punic walls.
And much more. Palermo and Agrigento are easy day trips.
Beaches
There are many beaches in the vicinity. We recommend Tonnarella about 5 miles from Santa Maria. There is about a mile of white sand and the water is usually warmer than at other local beaches. The bars and bathing stations are taken down from September to June. The water is fairly shallow so this is the most suitable beach for small children.
Activities
Windsurfing, sailing, kitesurfing, and riding are all available nearby.
How to reach the Villa
By air
The nearest international airport is Palermo - Falcone Borsellino - 110 kilometres from Mazara del Vallo.
It is an easy drive along the motorway that goes direct to Mazara del Vallo and takes from 40 minutes (Marcello's record) to an hour. There is very little traffic.
A car is a must for a holiday at Villa Santa Maria. The major car hire firms such as Hertz and Avis are represented at the Airport.
Ryanair flies direct from Stansted and Luton to Palermo and Trapani. Easyjet flies direct to Palermo in summer and Alitalia flies to Palermo throughout the year, with a change of flights in Rome or Milan. The Birgi airport of Trapani is less than an hour's drive from Santa Maria..
By sea
There are ferry and hovercraft services from Naples to Palermo and a ferry also from Genoa.