The beautiful little town of Castellammare del Golfo is the largest and prettiest seaside resort in the extensive beach area of the Bay of Castellammare, which stretches for over 20 km. The whole area is one of Sicily’s best destinations for swimming.

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Castellammare enjoys a superb location on the edge of the rocky Zingaro Peninsula and the flat coastline of the bay of the same name. Thanks to its history, it is not just a sterile holiday resort, but a beautiful little town with picturesque houses and narrow streets.

Beaches and swimming

Castellammare marks the start of a beach strip over 20 km long, stretching through the resorts of Alcamo Marina and Balestrate all the way to Trappeto. All the local beaches boastfine golden sand andexcellent facilities, including dozens of restaurants, bars, sun lounger hire and a range of water activities and sports.

As the coastline is around 20 km long, there is something for everyone – whether you prefer quieter stretches with more space and privacy, or you’d rather be right in the thick of things.

Sights and attractions

Castellammare has a beautiful historic centre, whose history dates back to the times of ancient Rome, when the town served as a trading centre for nearby Segesta. However, the monuments that have survived to the present day date from the later periods of the Middle Ages and the modern era:

• Castello a mare –a 10th-century Arab-Norman castle right on the coast
• Chiesa Madre –the most beautiful local church with a yellow-and-white façade dating from 1736
• Sea caves –about 3 km to the west, you can admire several ‘Grotte’, sea caves carved out by the surf along the rugged coastline

Accommodation

Along the entire coastline of the Bay of Castellammare, you’ll find hundreds, perhaps thousands, of accommodation options. The main options here are smaller private apartments and guesthouses with prices ranging from 1,700 to 103 eur per night for two, but in Castellammare del Golfo itself or the resort of Balestrate, you can also stay in traditional hotels with prices from 103 eur per night upwards.

Our selection of the best accommodation:

• Hotel Cetarium **** – a high-quality hotel with reasonable prices right in the historic centre, overlooking the marina
• Appartamento Spiaggia Playa – holiday apartments right on the beach

Transport

The entire area around the gulf is easily accessible by both car and public transport. One of Sicily’s main motorways, the A29, which connects Trapani and Palermo, runs alongside the gulf, and you can use both trains and buses:

• Trapani: ASTbuses, Ternitalia trains, price approx. 6,50 eur
• Palermo: Russobuses(including direct services to the airport), Ternitalia trains, fare approx. 6,50 eur
• Segesta: Tarantola buses, fare approx. 2,70 eur (Bivio di Segesta stop)
• San Vito lo Capo: Russobuses, fare approx. 6,50 eur

Local transport along the coast from Castellammare via Balestrate to Trappeta is provided by Russobuses and Ternitalia trains.

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