Trapani

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Trapani

Tràpani is a city on the west coast of Sicily in Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Trapani. Originally founded by ancient Greeks, the city is still an important fishing port and the main gateway to the nearby Egadi Islands.

History

Tràpani was founded by the Elymians to serve as the port of the nearby city of Erice (ancient Eryx), which overlooks it from Monte San Giuliano. The city sits on a low-lying promontory jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea. It was originally named Drépanon from the Greek word for "sickle", because of the curving shape of its harbour. Carthage seized control of the city in 260 BC, subsequently making it an important naval base, but ceded it to Rome in 241 BC following the Battle of the Aegates in the First Punic War.

Two ancient legends tell of mythical origins for the city. In the first legend, Tràpani stemmed from the sickle which fell from the hands of the goddess Demeter while she was seeking for her daughter Persephone, who had been kidnapped by Hades. The second myth features Saturn, god of the sky, who eviscerated his father Chronos with a sickle which, falling into the sea, created the city. In ancient times Saturn was the god-protector of Tràpani. Today Saturn's statue stands in a piazza in the centre of the city.

The city was badly damaged during World War II when it was subjected to intense Allied bombardments. It has grown greatly since the end of the war, sprawling out virtually to the foot of Monte San Giuliano. Tourism has grown in recent years due to the city's proximity to popular destinations such as Erice, Segesta and the Egadi Islands.

Economy

Much of Tràpani's economy still depends on the sea. Fishing and canning are an important local industries, with fishermen using the mattanza technique to catch tuna. Coral is also an important export, along with salt, marble and marsala wine. The nearby coast is lined with numerous salt-pans.

The city is also an important ferry port, with links to the Egadi Islands, Pantelleria, Sardinia and Tunisia.

Sights

Much of the old town of Tràpani dates from the later medieval or early modern periods; there are no extant remains of the ancient city. Many of the city's historic buildings are designed in the Baroque style. Notable monuments include:

The Church of Sant'Agostino (14th century, with the splendid rose-window
The Church of Santa Maria di Gesù (15th century-16th century)
The magnificent Basilica-Sanctuary of Maria Santissima Annunziata (also called "Madonna di Tràpani") originally built in 1315-1332 and rebuilt in 1760. It houses a marble statue of the Madonna of Tràpani, which might be the work of Nino Pisano
Fontana di Tritone (Triton's Fountain)
The Baroque Palazzo della Giudecca 'or Casa Ciambra
The Cathedral (1635)

The city is renowned for its Easter procession, Il Misteri, when the town's guilds parade a groups of sculpted 17th century and 18th century religious statues through the streets in a procession lasting for 16 hours on Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

Sport

From 28 September to 9 October 2005 Tràpani was the location of Acts 8 and 9 of the Louis Vuitton Cup. This sailing race featured, among other entrants, all the boats that will take part in the 2007 America's Cup.

Gallery

Image:Trapani 1.JPG|The Old City Image:Trapani9.JPG|Cavarretta Palace Image:Trapani_chiostro.JPG|The Jesuits' Cloister Image:Erice-bjs-6.jpg|Salines and city of Trapani seen from Monte Erice

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