San Vito Lo Capo is an idyllic seaside town in northwestern Sicily located about an hour’s drive away from Trapani and founded during the 18th century. Nestled within a lush mountain valley, it is famous for its crystal clear blue waters of San Vito Lo Capo Beach as well as small-scale farmers who tend their olive groves regularly. The economy here mainly relies on agriculture and tourism with small farmers owning olive groves often making an appearance here.
Population: 4,702, though that can fluctuate greatly throughout the year as more visitors flock to enjoy beaches and historic spots in Trapani. Close by are two major airfields: Falcone Borsellino Airport & Trapani-Birgi Vincenzo Florio Airport.
San Vito Lo Capo is known for many things, but most notably for:
Historical sites
Transfer Palermo San Vito lo Capo offers visitors many scenic spots worth seeing, such as the 18th-century Torre dell’Usciere watchtower, deserted Tonnara del Secco tuna factory and Sanctuary of Saint Vito Martyr.
Adventure sports
Adventure seekers can take advantage of the town’s prime position surrounded by mountains and close to Riserva Dello Zingaro by discovering over 1,000 spots for hiking and rock climbing in Riserva Dello Zingaro.
Beaches
One of the main draws to visiting this town is Spiaggia San Vito Capo beach, famous for its crystal-clear waters and white-hued sand, perfect for relaxing on an umbrella and sunbed. Nearby Macari Beach also provides excellent opportunities to snorkel. Finally, Cala dell’Uzzo provides another hidden beach with pebbly sand; swimming shoes should always be worn when visiting this spot.
Cous Cous Festival
Since 1988, world-renowned chefs from around the globe compete in a world championship of couscous during this festival held each September. This event aims to draw attention to this humble Mediterranean dish through an international-based competition which unites people from diverse cultures, histories, religions and languages. DJs at the beach provide live music while concerts take place throughout. People also can watch cooking shows and qualifying heats before finally competing for supremacy at this worldwide competition.
Ways of Reaching San Vito Lo Capo From Palermo Airport
Renting a car
Its Thirteen car rental firms are conveniently located within the airport lobby. Car rental is an ideal solution, especially since San Vito lo Capo is not well connected to other parts of Trapani Province, giving you freedom of movement essential for touring its entirety. Keep in mind, however, that most rental companies require the use of a credit card (not pre-paid) as security deposit for each rental; otherwise it won’t be released even though it was reserved and paid for online.
With a transfer shuttle service
If you need transportation from Palermo airport in Palermo towards San Vito lo Capo, there are various firms offering shuttle services – minibuses with 8 seats can be reserved through their websites and can accommodate passengers of various ages (even the youngest children!). When booking directly through them you can pay with cash, debit card or credit card; otherwise the cost per person could reach 80 euros depending on whether it’s an all-inclusive bus or not.
By taxi
Taxis at Palermo airport can be found upon exiting the departures area and may operate simultaneously with landings; should they not, the number may be found at the information desk at the airport and dialed directly for services. Taxi service generally costs approximately EUR80 euros.
By bus
Unfortunately there is no direct bus route between Palermo Airport and San Vito Lo Capo; therefore we do not advise using this mode of travel. In order to reach San Vito Lo Capo via this mode of transport from Palermo, passengers will first take the train from Palermo to Trapani before connecting via Trapani with another bus navetta San Vito lo Capo Palermo aeroporto.
Languages spoken in San Vito Lo Capo
Italian is the language of officiality in San Vito Lo Capo and, if you plan to visit, it would be beneficial to learn some Italian words and phrases before traveling there. Doing this will allow you to connect with locals more easily while experiencing more culture from them and their city center’s inhabitants who mainly speak English fluently; knowing Italian will only enhance and make your visit even more memorable!
Best time to Visit San Vito Lo Capo
San Vito Lo Capo experiences warm, humid and dry summers characterized by clear skies. Winters in San Vito Lo Capo tend to be cool humid drizzly cloudy days with occasional gusts. Temperatures typically range from 10 degrees Celsius to 29degC with mid-June through August being an optimal time for visiting this Italian vacation spot; restaurants in the area tend to operate seasonally.
Travel Tips in San Vito Lo Capo
A Walk to the Porch
As one way of relieving anxiety, San Vito lo Capo offers the perfect environment for an afternoon stroll. Enjoying a walk there can be both physically and spiritually relaxing; especially during sunset when views focus on Monte Monaco and smell of seawater wafting across rock below! Many hikers will even make it to its symbol: its lighthouse.
Visit to the Tonnara Del Secco
Now we will elaborate further: on its journeys across the Mediterranean Sea, migration routes of cetaceans take them along all of Trapani coast’s beaches – this has resulted in numerous traps from past years appearing alongside them. Florio family of Favignana Island were particularly successful and lucrative fishermen. Furthermore, towns nearby were equipped with traps so as to take advantage of fish manna that was periodically brought from the waters and brought in. San Vito Lo Capo was located outside of Florence city limits in an area where water resources were limited, thus lowering its network costs. First introduced around 1412 and remaining operational until 1965 due to declining production levels, its trap was eventually shut down for good in 1965 due to decreased needs.
Visit to the Zingaro Reserve
Zingaro Nature Reserve, situated between San Vito Lo Capo and Castellammare del Golfo, is an extraordinary natural paradise with breathtaking beauty. Spanning seven kilometers, an array of bird species can be seen within this reserve; along pathways there is lush and abundant vegetation thanks to carob trees, almond trees and massive areas of dwarf palms and orchids; coves offer boat rides; five miniature museums can also be found throughout these grounds including The Museum of Manna (which houses several woven textiles), Museum of Rural Life/Maritime Activities/Ornithologic.
Tasting of Typical Specialties
Sicily travel guides always include one key tip – eating and drinking! As a place surrounded by sea, it is an absolute must to try our fresh seafood and the world-famous cous-cous. What was once simply an everyday staple dish made with semolina soaked in fish broth has now become the emblem of an entire area and business venture. Each September sees the world’s largest festival dedicated to this popular Mediterranean dish with performances, cooking shows and village exhibitions all taking place to ensure delicious food experiences!