Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
life to salvaging Trapani's local arts and crafts, most notably the garish coral carvings -
once all the rage in Europe before Trapani's offshore coral banks were decimated. The
museum also has a good collection of Gagini sculptures, silverwork, archaeological arte-
facts and religious art.
Don't miss Andrea Tipa's gaudy 18th-century
presepe
(Nativity scene or crèche) made
of alabaster, coral, shells and other marine material, or the significantly less ornate but far
more beautiful coral carvings by Fra' Matteo Bavera. Other highlights include an ex-
traordinary
cassetta reliquaria
(relic box) from the workshop of Alberto and Andrea Tipa
and remnants of painted tile floors from the Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie (featuring
fishing scenes) and the Chiesa di Santa Lucia (with scenes of Trapani's city centre).
Santuario dell'Annunziata
(Via Conte Pepoli 179; 7am-noon & 4-7pm Mon-Sat, 7am-1pm & 4-7pm Sun)
At this 14th-century
church, 4km east of the centre, the main attraction is the Cappella della Madonna, which
contains Nino Pisano's venerated marble sculpture of the
Madonna di Trapani,
patron
saint of the city and traditional protector of seafarers. Other images of the Madonna can
be found in the 16th-century Cappella dei Marinai and the 15th-century Cappella dei Pes-
catori.
CHURCH
Chiesa di Santa Maria
del Gesù
CHURCH
(Via San Pietro; 8am-1pm)
This Catalan-Gothic church in the historic centre houses the ex-
quisite
Madonna degli Angeli
(Madonna of the Angels), a glazed terracotta statue by
Andrea della Robbia.
Chiesa di Sant'Agostino
CHURCH
(Piazza Sant'Agostino; 8am-1pm)
The austerity of this 14th-century church near the port is re-
lieved by its fine Gothic rose window and portal.
Eating
Trapani's unique position on the sea route to Tunisia has made couscous (or
cuscus,
as it
is sometimes spelled here) something of a speciality, particularly when served
alla trapan-
ese
(in a soup of fish, garlic, chilli, tomatoes, saffron, cinnamon and nutmeg). Another ir-
