Editing Erice (section)

== Landmarks ==
Key sites in Erice’s historic centre include:

* '''Cyclopean walls''': Ancient fortifications that once protected Eryx. They are considered among the most significant surviving examples of early Mediterranean defensive architecture, incorporating Elymian, Punic, and medieval construction phases.<ref>{{cite journal |last=De Vincenzo |first=Salvatore |title=The fortification wall of Eryx: A new definition of the settlement's construction phases and topographic development in light of recent excavations |journal=Analysis Archaeologica |volume=1 |year=2015 |pages=103–116 |url=https://www.academia.edu/31499089/The_fortification_wall_of_Eryx_A_new_definition_of_the_settlement_s_construction_phases_and_topographic_development_in_light_of_recent_excavations_Analysis_Archaeologica_1_2015_103_116}}</ref>
* '''Castle of Venus''': A Norman-era fortress built on the site of an ancient sanctuary dedicated to Venus Erycina, a Roman adaptation of the Greek goddess [[Aphrodite]]. The area has been associated with religious activity since antiquity and features archaeological remains from Elymian, Roman, and medieval periods.<ref>{{cite web |title=Il Castello di Venere |url=https://www.fondazioneericearte.org/il-castello-di-venere/ |website=Fondazione Erice Arte |language=it |access-date=18 May 2025}}</ref>
* '''Churches''': Erice contains numerous historic churches, including the 14th-century [[Chiesa Matrice, Erice|Mother Church]] (''Chiesa Matrice''), and others such as San Martino and San Giuliano, representing a range of architectural styles and periods.<ref name="Tusa2017">{{cite book |last=Tusa |first=Sebastiano |title=Erice: Planning for Life |year=2017 |publisher=Self-published |location=Erice |language=en}}</ref>
* '''Cordici Museum''' (''Polo Museale “A. Cordici”''): A civic museum housed in a former Franciscan convent, founded in 1876 to conserve artworks and archaeological finds from suppressed religious institutions and local collections. Its holdings include Elymian and Roman artifacts, sacred art, ethnographic objects, and Garibaldian-era weapons. The museum also features a dedicated section for contemporary art, showcasing works from the La Salerniana collection, which includes pieces by prominent Italian artists from the latter half of the 20th century.<ref>{{cite web |title=Polo Museale “A. Cordici” |url=https://www.fondazioneericearte.org/polo-museale-a-cordici/ |website=Fondazione Erice Arte |language=it |access-date=18 May 2025}}</ref>
* '''Balio Towers''' (''Torri del Balio''): A group of medieval towers that served both defensive and administrative functions following the [[Norman conquest of southern Italy]]. They were the residence of the Bajulo, a royal official responsible for civil justice and taxation, and formed a gateway to the Castle of Venus.<ref name="Tusa2017"/>
* '''Pepoli Turret''' (''Torretta Pepoli''): A neo-Gothic retreat built between 1872 and 1880 by Count Agostino [[Pepoli]] as a place for study and cultural gatherings. Situated on a rocky outcrop east of the Balio Gardens, it blends medieval, Moorish, and Liberty architectural elements. Restored in 2014, it now serves as a multimedia museum and the “Observatory of Peace and Lighthouse of the Mediterranean”.<ref>{{cite web |title=Torretta Pepoli |url=https://www.fondazioneericearte.org/torretta-pepoli/ |website=Fondazione Erice Arte |language=it |access-date=19 May 2025}}</ref>
* '''[[Balio Gardens]]''': Public gardens created in the 19th century by Count Agostino Pepoli on former grazing land adjacent to the Balio Towers. The gardens feature Mediterranean and exotic plantings, fountains, monuments, and viewpoints over Trapani and the surrounding coastline.