Casa Santa: Beach, Coast and Murals

Casa Santa appeals to travellers with a range of interests: San Giuliano sandy beach, the coastal formations around the Tonnara San Cusumano, maritime sites, public art and the cable car to Monte Erice. If you are looking for a hotel in Casa Santa, you can weigh up whether the beach, coastal landscape, cultural history or an excursion to the summit is especially important for your trip.

San Giuliano Beach and Coastal Formations

San Giuliano sandy beach stretches from the municipal boundary with Trapani to the southwestern end of the natural reef around the Tonnara San Cusumano. It is about 1,200 metres long. Openings in the wall along Lungomare Dante Alighieri lead to the beach; wooden stairs take you down at these points. The named endpoints and approximate length help you identify this stretch of coast.

The coastline features three low rocky reefs jutting out into the sea. They enclose two coves with deposits of sand and pebbles. A low natural reef also emerges at the northeastern end of San Giuliano Beach. The coastal landscape therefore includes both the longer sandy beach and coves with different types of deposits, as well as low rocky formations. This distinction is useful if you are interested in the landscape as well as the beach itself.

Coastal Paths and Maritime History

The Tonnara San Cusumano and its surrounding area are the site of a tuna-processing facility operated by the Nino Castiglione company. A public footpath through the Giardini della Tonnara di San Cusumano crosses the grounds of the tonnara and provides access to the coast. The park is privately owned and open to the public under an agreement with the municipal administration.

The former Saline San Cusumano is also part of the area’s maritime heritage. It comprises a salt house and a 17th-century windmill. The complex has now been converted into tourist accommodation, the I Mulini Resort. Here, the historic saltworks and their current use for tourism come together in one specific place.

Sports Park, Murals and Beach Club

The Giardino dello Sport “Falcone Borsellino” is a sports park of about 35,000 square metres with sea views. It includes an extensive green area, a children’s play area, several outdoor sports facilities and a covered multi-purpose facility. The size and range of facilities describe more than a single playing field or green space: play, sport and time spent outdoors are named as separate parts of the complex.

The “Il Giardino di Nino Via” mural is on a building opposite Piazzetta Antonino Via, between Via Capua and Via Fratelli Aiuto in Casa Santa. The Erice municipal administration carried out the project in 2017. Participants included students from Scuola Media Antonino De Stefano and I. Circolo didattico Giovanni Pascoli di Erice, as well as the cultural association “Antonino Via – Eroe Contemporaneo”. The mural is dedicated to the memory of Nino Via.

Erice Smile Beach is an accessible beach club run by the Municipality of Erice. Check whether it is currently open before visiting.

Cable Car and Scenic Road

The valley station of the Trapani–Erice cable car is on the SP 31 to Erice, at the corner with Via Capua. From there, the cable car reaches the summit of Monte Erice in about ten minutes. If you plan to take the ride, check the cable car’s current operating status before travelling.

A different road connection is the Strada Provinciale No. 20: it is considered a scenic road and connects Trapani with Bonagia, a coastal district of Valderice. Within the Municipality of Erice, it runs along the entire coast and also serves coastal access. The two roads have different roles: the SP 31 is where the cable car’s valley station is located, while the SP 20 connects Trapani and Bonagia and runs through the coastal area within the Municipality of Erice.

Discover more destinations: Selinunte, Tre Croci, Poggioreale, Valderice, Scauri, Ciavolo, Parrinello, Buseto Palizzolo

For the broader travel overview: Trapani.