Yachts can anchor inside the sheltered harbour at Castellamare del Golfo, but wanting to explore by rental car for a couple of days we moored stern-to a jetty for Euro 60 (NZ$94) per night including power and water.
This is a delightful spot with helpful staff, the obligatory ancient castle and the picturesque sea front lined with inviting bars and restaurants.
Castellamare del Golfo marina and village
Envoy initially anchored at Castellamare del Golfo before mooring stern-to a jetty
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First stop with our car was Segesta, originally home to Bronze Age Elymians, descended from legendary Trojans, and the stunning and serene site of a never-completed but well preserved Doric temple dating from 430 BC.
Spectacular Doric temple at Segesta
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Laurie, Lily and John before temple
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What makes this site particularly great is the location of the temple on the edge of a deep rugged gorge surrounded by lush fertile farmland.
Di, Laurie, John and Lily view gorge by temple
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The next stop was Palermo to visit the ghoulish Catacombs of the Capuchins where about 8,000 mummified bodies of people who died in the 1600s to 1800s are displayed for all to see in a gloomy labyrinth of corridors. Some are lying down while others are standing against the walls supported by cords. Included are the bodies of men, women, children and even babies, mostly reasonably intact and dressed in clothing of the period. The body of one young girl is said to be so well preserved as to be almost lifelike, but she didn’t look that way to us. It was very macabre and we all agreed the bodies looked like they were props from Michael Jackson’s DVD, Thriller. This was interesting but we wouldn’t want to do it again. If you want to see some macabre pictures Google Palermo catacombs.
We finished the day with a cooling swim at a stony beach, finding a small rock pool ideal for Lily to splash around in.
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Next day we visited Scopello, a small and sleepy atmospheric village based around an 18th century baglio (fortified manor house).
Scopello’s main square
The owners of a hotel invited us onto their rear balcony to look below to the coastal site of an old tonnara (tuna processing factory). This is sheltered from the open sea by several small islands and a very popular spot for swimming, despite the fact you have to pay and can only sit on concrete.
View of tonnara from hotel
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Sicilians love kids and people wanted to hold Lily – the hotel owner with Lily
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View of tonnara from the sea – the hotel we looked down from is upper left
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John and Laurie snorkeled around the coast adjacent to the tonnara
Now we had a family conference and a change of plans. John and Alice decided they’d like to spend their remaining week back at the Egadi Islands, rather than exploring mainland Sicily. Fortunately the seven hour return trip was in nice calm conditions unlike our outward trip.
Alice and John on Envoy’s bow with paravanes out
TECHNICAL - nothing to report.
ENVOY LOG As at 22/7/14, we’d spent 105 days aboard and cruised 925 miles for 168 engine hours.
Castellamare del Golfo marina and village
Envoy initially anchored at Castellamare del Golfo before mooring stern-to a jetty
First stop with our car was Segesta, originally home to Bronze Age Elymians, descended from legendary Trojans, and the stunning and serene site of a never-completed but well preserved Doric temple dating from 430 BC.
Spectacular Doric temple at Segesta
Laurie, Lily and John before temple
What makes this site particularly great is the location of the temple on the edge of a deep rugged gorge surrounded by lush fertile farmland.
Di, Laurie, John and Lily view gorge by temple
The next stop was Palermo to visit the ghoulish Catacombs of the Capuchins where about 8,000 mummified bodies of people who died in the 1600s to 1800s are displayed for all to see in a gloomy labyrinth of corridors. Some are lying down while others are standing against the walls supported by cords. Included are the bodies of men, women, children and even babies, mostly reasonably intact and dressed in clothing of the period. The body of one young girl is said to be so well preserved as to be almost lifelike, but she didn’t look that way to us. It was very macabre and we all agreed the bodies looked like they were props from Michael Jackson’s DVD, Thriller. This was interesting but we wouldn’t want to do it again. If you want to see some macabre pictures Google Palermo catacombs.
We finished the day with a cooling swim at a stony beach, finding a small rock pool ideal for Lily to splash around in.
Next day we visited Scopello, a small and sleepy atmospheric village based around an 18th century baglio (fortified manor house).
Scopello’s main square
The owners of a hotel invited us onto their rear balcony to look below to the coastal site of an old tonnara (tuna processing factory). This is sheltered from the open sea by several small islands and a very popular spot for swimming, despite the fact you have to pay and can only sit on concrete.
View of tonnara from hotel
Sicilians love kids and people wanted to hold Lily – the hotel owner with Lily
View of tonnara from the sea – the hotel we looked down from is upper left
John and Laurie snorkeled around the coast adjacent to the tonnara
Now we had a family conference and a change of plans. John and Alice decided they’d like to spend their remaining week back at the Egadi Islands, rather than exploring mainland Sicily. Fortunately the seven hour return trip was in nice calm conditions unlike our outward trip.
Alice and John on Envoy’s bow with paravanes out
TECHNICAL - nothing to report.
ENVOY LOG As at 22/7/14, we’d spent 105 days aboard and cruised 925 miles for 168 engine hours.
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