Castellammare del Golfo roughly translates to castle by the sea or sea fortress and indeed there is a castle here that dates back to the 14th Century. Castellammare was also used as the harbour for ancient Segesta. Today it relies on fishing and tourism to keep it going.

How to get to Castellammare del Golfo

Quaint and pretty, Castellammare del Golfo nestles around its castle and small port and is entirely enclosed by surrounding hills. It is located in western Sicily in the province of Trapani on a superb stretch of coastline that's well worth exploring. Castellammare del Golfo lies just off the main train line and regular buses meet these connections to bring people to town. You can also get buses to places like Scopello, San Vito Lo Capo, Palermo, Trapani, Alcamo and Calatafimi/Segesta. There's no need for any transport in town as all the main sights lie in and around the cute little port, however one thing you might like to do is head out on a boat. You can rent boats in summer from the port to explore on your own or go out on various excursions to places like San Vito Lo Capo, Zingaro and Faraglioni di Scopello.

Things to do and see in Castellammare del Golfo

The best place to hang out in Castellammare del Golfo is without doubt the port below the castle. This gorgeous area is replete with wooden boats parked in among the cars and drying nets. There are also a number of places to eat and sleep in this area and even summer boat excursions for the Parco dello Zingaro. The other major attraction is the 17th century Aragonese castle on the rocky walls above the harbour. Inside are some museums and even the tourist office. The museums are well worth a look. One is the Museo Annalisa Buccellato that was established by the parents of this girl when she died. It contains old typewriters, farming utensils, water wheels and books and newspapers. The Museo dell’aqua e dei Mulini ad Aqua is the other museum here with various information about Arab irrigation systems.

From the tourist office you can also head up the spectacular staircase to the roof where there are good views. The other place worth wandering too is the 18th century Chiesa Matrice with its distinct yellow facade. Castellammare del Golfo was once considered the worst place in Sicily for Mafia violence and many important Mafia people actually came from here. It's hard to believe this given its idyllic and quiet state today.

Accommodation and restaurants in Castellammare del Golfo

The best dining and accommodation is in the port. Obviously seafood is the specialty here and given the reliance on the local fishing industry you can be assured that most of it has literally flipped out of the sea that day and onto your plate. Some of the restaurants actually display fresh fish in a tank outside. The other thing to try here is the couscous. There aren't a lot of accommodation options in Castellammare del Golfo but they do cater for a range of budgets. There is a campground about two kilometres from the train station (500 metres from town), a few B&Bs and hotels. Hotel Cetarium or Hotel Al Madarig are probably the pick of the bunch.

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