Leaving Palermo, we continued round the coast to Castellammare del Gulfo and stopped for coffee at this lovely little town with a marina. Could be a useful stopover when we are cruising this year.
Castellammare del Gulfo
Driving on, our next stop was to see the salt pans south of Trapani. Sadly the windmill museum wasn't open out of season but an interesting stop all the same.
Large heaps of salt along the edge of the pans
Looking back across the pans to one of the windmills.
Sciacca (pronounced Shakka)
Our next overnight stop was bed and breakfast at Hotel Aliai in Sciacca. We had rooms on the second floor with balconies overlooking the harbour - very pleasant!
I love these steps in town, each flight decorated with different tiles. We had seen this in other places.
Sciacca is renowned for its carnival and, although we just missed the actual event, we came across the floats parked up waiting to be renovated and stored for next year. These models are huge - as high as the top of the first floor of the buildings. We later saw on Sicilian TV a report about the carnival and these models are automated.
Eraclea Minoia
The Lonely Planet guide described the ancient ruins here but, having driven down some fairly narrow tracks (not quite roads) and walked along the beach, we didn't actually find the ruins but it was a lovely walk. Shame the cafe wasn't open out of season!
Scala di Turchi
Next stop, the amazing white steps that make up the cliffs here.
Cultural Farm, Favara
Having driven around this very shabby, scruffy town, we eventually found the "art farm" we were looking for. Not quite what we expected - hardly a farm as we know it!! Just a collection of old buildings where artists work. They are aiming to improve the town through art and their current project is to create a children's museum.
Art is definitely a subjective thing!!
And back to Licata!!
Music evening singalong at Cafe Letterario, in the marina. Dave playing guitar and a few of the singers - Chris and Geoff doing their duet of Waltzing Matilda, Desi and Ginny.
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