Over View
San Vito Lo Capo is a popular beach resort at the tip of a cape which marks the north-western corner of Sicily. It’s in easy reach of Palermo and Trapani airports.
Unlike most Sicilian destinations, San Vito Lo Capo is all about the sea and the large sandy beach. Although it has one or two attractive historic buildings, the small town is essentially a modern tourist resort. This is a destination for sunbathing, swimming and taking things easy; good for families, for a relaxing holiday in the sun, or for a break from touring Sicily’s cultural sights. San Vito’s setting is striking; its long beach and level streets are backed by mountainous scenery.
San Vito is easily reached from both Trapani and Palermo. From Trapani there is a public bus service (run by AST) which takes just under an hour and a half. There is also a bus service from Palermo which runs a couple of times a day (more often in summer) and takes between two and a half and three hours. As the town is out at the far end of the headland, San Vito isn’t ideal as a base for touring the wider area of western Sicily, though it makes a good place to hole up and relax for a few days. In the more local area, visitors can explore the nature reserve of the Zingaro, visit Scopello and Castellammare del Golfo, perhaps take a trip down to Trapani and visit the Egadi islands.
In addition to its renowned beach, the town offers a other few attractions for the traveller. In the summer, boat trips along the coast offer more opportunities for sightseeing and swimming, cruising along the coast and sometimes out to the Egadi islands. A local Sicilian speciality is couscous, and San Vito boasts its own food festival: Cous Cous Fest. There’s also a festival of kite-flying. Activities available locally include diving, swimming, stand-up paddleboarding and hiking.
San Vito’s historic buildings include the nineteenth century town hall, Palazzo La Porta. The town’s most striking building is the fortress-church of the Santuario di San Vito. Dedicated to the town’s patron saint, the complex has a long history spanning centuries of military use before its religious re-purposing. There’s a small museum on site. The town also has a marine museum, the Museo del Mare, with exhibits including archaeological finds from local shipwrecks.
The Zingaro nature reserve is a beautiful protected area of coastline which stretches over a large area of the headland, from San Vito to Scopello. There are a number of footpaths in the reserve, including paths down from the main coastal trail to small coves.
Visitors to the area shouldn’t miss the beautiful views from the little hamlet of Scopello, or the attractive historic port of Castellammare del Golfo. Both can be reached by bus from San Vito.
