Erice
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- For the Spanish film director, see Victor Erice.
Erice is a historical city in the mountains close to Trapani in Sicily, Italy.
Erice hosts important scientific meetings, organised by the Italian astrophysicist Antonio Zichichi.
In the northeastern portion of the city there are the remains of ancient Elymian and Phoenician walls indicating different stages of settlement and occupation in antiquity.
There are two castles that remain in the city; first, Pepoli Castle, which dates from Saracen times, and Venus Castle which dates from the Norman period, on top of the ancient Temple of Venus.
The city overlooks the bay of Castellamare del Golfo on Sicily's northern coast, and the views are spectacular.
The ancient name of Erice was Eryx.
Venus Temple
A legend says that the temple of Venus (Venere Ericina) in Erice was founded by Aeneas; it was certainly known throughout the Mediterranean area in the ancient age, and an important cult was celebrated in it.