© iStock / mr-fox
© iStock / mr-fox

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Discover the Sicilian Caribbean in San Vito lo Capo

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Travel Tips For San Vito Lo Capo

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Without seeing Sicily you cannot understand Italy. Sicily is the key to everything

With these words, the famous German writer and philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe described Sicily during his trip to Italy, which gave rise to the famous book "Italian Journey".

Goethe defined Sicily as "the key to everything", which is a place of splendour, beauty and harmony but at the same time a place of poverty and social injustice. A place of contradictions with which it was necessary to deal, in order to have an overall and reliable idea of the Italian peninsula. But, alongside these contradictions, Goethe was above all fascinated by nature, landscape, flora, rocks and minerals of the island. And today I'm telling you about this beauty, and I'm giving you some tips to discover the Sicilian Caribbean in San Vito lo Capo.

© iStock / fokkebok
© iStock / fokkebok

Where Nature gives its best

Those arriving here for the first time cannot help but be enchanted by the beauty of the gulf, which suddenly opens up, amid a thousand shades of blue, to discover a glimpse of the sea enclosed between beautiful rocky walls and splendid Mediterranean vegetation. A true spectacle of nature!

San Vito lo Capo is a famous seaside location in Sicily, known for its beaches, considered among the best in Italy. Its territory includes the westernmost part of the Riserva dello Zingaro. Located on the western coast of Sicily, this quaint seaside town offers stunning beaches, crystal clear waters, delicious cuisine and unique culture. In this story, I will guide you to discover all that San Vito Lo Capo has to offer and give you some tips to live in the best way your holiday in this beautiful Sicilian town.

Visit the seaside town of San Vito Lo Capo
Visit the seaside town of San Vito Lo Capo
Via Secca, 63, 91010 San Vito Lo Capo TP, Italy
© iStock / e55evu
© iStock / e55evu

Perfumes, Colors and Flavours

The beach of very fine white sand, the crystalline water of a sea with iridescent colours, the harmony of coloured hibiscus plants, oleanders and very flourishing bougainvillaeas that mix with the scents of jasmine and couscous… this is San Vito Lo Capo!

The sincere hospitality of the inhabitants, their welcome, and the local cuisine with couscous, the typical dish promoted with the international annual event "couscousfest", have made San Vito Lo Capo known and appreciated in the world. The country with its low and white houses, despite having had a fair building development over the years, has in any case maintained the type of fishing village it once was.

© iStock / domeniconardozza
© iStock / domeniconardozza

Just 38 kilometres from Trapani and about 100 from Palermo, San Vito Lo Capo is located on a bay with shallow and calm waters, between the Zingaro and Cofano Nature Reserves. In any case, San Vito Lo Capo is not the only marvel to be discovered in this pristine stretch of coast in western Sicily. Macari, a small hamlet 3 km from San Vito lo Capo, offers us its sunsets over the Gulf of Cofano, one of the most exciting experiences in the world. And Castelluzzo, which is located 9 km from San Vito lo Capo, with its pebble coves and the small beach in front of the Gulf, makes the scenery very exciting for the visitors. But there is also the possibility, for those who love to experience their holiday in a more active way, to go on excursions and treks to the Zingaro Nature Reserve, visits to the nearby archaeological sites of Segesta and Mothya (just to name a few), boat trips, sailing and diving, etc. 

Riserva Naturale Orientata dello Zingaro
Riserva Naturale Orientata dello Zingaro
Riserva Naturale Orientata dello Zingaro, 91010 San Vito Lo Capo TP, Italy
Erice
Erice
91016 Erice, Province of Trapani, Italy
Polle del Crimiso - Segesta
Polle del Crimiso - Segesta
91014 Castellammare del Golfo, Province of Trapani, Italy
© iStock / Wirestock
© iStock / Wirestock

All riches that San Vito Lo Capo offers with both hands, especially in mid-June, when those who want a taste of summer can reach these places, so as not to miss the spectacular patronal festival, during which the statue of San Vito is brought in procession, with final fireworks. Carefully prepared all year round, as happens in almost all Sicilian cities, this is the moment of the year when the city recalls the landing of the patron saint, in the evocative setting of the fishing boats that gather in front of the beach at sunset, illuminating it with rockets and torches.

An obligatory passage of a holiday in San Vito Lo Capo is the tasting of typical dishes and local specialities, such as jasmine ice cream and the "dish of peace" - the unmissable couscous, celebrated every year in the dedicated festival, in September, and proposed in the variants of fish, meat and vegetables.

© iStock / ilmoro100
© iStock / ilmoro100

Experiences not to be missed

To complete this total experience of beauty, I suggest an excursion to the Zingaro Reserve, along the coast which, between breathtaking cliffs and paradisiacal coves, reaches up to Scopello. One piece of advice I feel like giving is to book a half-day Zingaro Nature Reserve and Scopello Cruise. The cruise includes a Boat excursion to the Zingaro Reserve and Scopello from San Vito Lo Capo, a visit to the surroundings, and three stops for bathing, in Lake of Venus, Cala Uzzo (Zingaro), Faraglioni of Scopello.

© Get Your Guide / unknown
© Get Your Guide / unknown

For a personalized full-day experience, I suggest instead booking a Private Full-Day Boat Trip, to discover the unspoiled natural beauty around San Vito Lo Capo and admire the beautiful coastline. Snorkel or swim in crystal-clear waters: fins, masks, and various swimming aids are provided. On the day of the private tour, your skipper will decide the best route, depending on sea and weather conditions, and this is undoubtedly a plus!

© Get Your Guide / unknown
© Get Your Guide / unknown

Those who don't want to give up on two wheels even on holiday will love cycling after sunset to the lighthouse or reaching the nearby tuna fishery, a favourite destination for many divers who appreciate the intact and rich in fauna seabed of this corner of western Sicily.

And, to the more adventurous, I suggest trying an Off-Road ATV Buggy Tour, to discover the Segesta countryside alongside a guide, stop at vineyards and orchards to see seasonal fruit, and admire the wonderful Temple of Segesta.

© Get Your Guide / unknown
© Get Your Guide / unknown

There are many reasons why a tourist should plan a Sicilian Caribbean vacation in San Vito lo Capo. Firstly, the city is located in one of the most beautiful and unspoilt areas of the island. San Vito Lo Capo offers breathtaking beaches with crystal clear waters, perfect for swimming, sunbathing and water sports such as windsurfing and kite surfing. Furthermore, it is famous for its delicious cuisine, which combines Mediterranean flavours with Arabic and African influences. Here you can taste couscous, a typical dish of the city, prepared with fresh fish and local vegetables. Finally, San Vito Lo Capo is a city rich in history, culture and traditions. So, let’s go to discover the Sicilian Caribbean in San Vito lo Capo!

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The author

Mara Noveni

Mara Noveni

My name is Mara, I am Italian, born in Rome and raised in the wonderful Tuscany. Always in love with reading and writing, I completed this way of expressing myself through photography, especially street and travel photography. Thanks to my many and long travel experiences, I have enriched my mind and my inner life.

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