Western Sicily - Palermo, Trapani and the Valley of the Temples by MotorhomePalermo, Trapani and the Valley of the Temples by Motorhome

Palermo is chaotic, loud, and irresistible: the markets of Ballarò and Vucciria, the Norman chapel with golden mosaics in the palace, the cathedral, and the Capuchin catacombs. The motorhome does not belong in the city; the motorhome pitches and campsites are located on the coast near Sferracavallo and Isola delle Femmine, take the bus or train to the centre. Monreale, on the hill above the city, has the most beautiful cathedral in Sicily with six thousand square metres of mosaic; go early, the parking for large vehicles is at the bottom of the village.

Castellammare del Golfo is a fishing town around a bay with an Arab-Norman castle on the quay. Scopello, a few kilometers further on, is a hamlet built around an old tuna fishery with rocks rising like towers from the sea; the swimming water at the tonnara is the most beautiful on the west coast. The southern entrance to the Riserva dello Zingaro is just past Scopello, with a small parking lot at the end of the road.

San Vito Lo Capo has a white sand beach under a limestone cape, a village of low white houses, and the best couscous in Sicily. The Riserva dello Zingaro, the island's first nature reserve, can be explored on foot from the northern entrance: a seven-kilometer coastal path along bays only accessible by swimming or walking. The motorhome pitches are on the outskirts of the village; a reservation is required in summer.

Trapani has a crescent-shaped center between two seas, a fish market at the harbor, and an evening stroll along the Mura di Tramontana with the sun setting behind the Aegadian Islands. The cable car takes you in ten minutes to Erice, the medieval town at 750 meters that is often shrouded in clouds, and boats to Favignana depart from the quay. The motorhome pitches are located on the outskirts of the city near the salt pans.

The salt pans of Stagnone are located between Trapani and Marsala: shallow basins where the salt dries in white pyramids, with windmills in between and flamingos in the water. From the jetty at Saline Ettore e Infersa, a small boat sails to Mozia, the Phoenician island in the lagoon. Marsala itself is the city of wine; the Florio cellars are open for tastings. The motorhome pitches near the salt pans offer the best sunset views in Sicily.

Selinunte was one of the largest Greek cities in the Mediterranean world, and its archaeological park is still the largest in Europe: temples on the acropolis hill, a gigantic fallen temple on the eastern hill, and between them a plain of flowers with the sea behind. An electric train runs between the sections. Marinella di Selinunte is the fishing village next to it, with a beach and motorhome pitches within walking distance of the entrance.

The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento is the best reason to come to Sicily: a row of Doric temples on a ridge above the sea, with the Temple of Concordia as one of the best preserved in the Greek world. Arrive at opening or stay until the evening opening in summer, when the temples are illuminated. The motorhome pitches are located on the coast near San Leone, ten minutes below the park; skip the modern city on top of the hill.

Palermo is chaotic, loud, and irresistible: the markets of Ballarò and Vucciria, the Norman chapel with golden mosaics in the palace, the cathedral, and the Capuchin catacombs. The motorhome does not belong in the city; the motorhome pitches and campsites are located on the coast near Sferracavallo and Isola delle Femmine, take the bus or train to the centre. Monreale, on the hill above the city, has the most beautiful cathedral in Sicily with six thousand square metres of mosaic; go early, the parking for large vehicles is at the bottom of the village.