Santa Maria and the food culture:
Mazara is a Mecca for people who like to eat - not the place to come if you are on a diet! It offers a wide range of excellent trattorias and restaurants, where you can savour the freshest seafood and fish, not to mention the delights of Sicilian traditional fare from fish couscous to melanzane alla parmigiana - aubergines baked with cheese, basil and tomato sauce In the manual you will find in the house, we recommend the very best of local restaurants, all of them dedicated to offering excellent Sicilian cuisine and at very reasonable prices. For families there are many low cost, child-friendly pizzerias on the lovely promenade beyond the city centre. They offer not only pizzas, but a very wide range of pasta, vegetable, meat, seafood and fish dishes. Those of you with a sweet tooth won't resist the pasticcerie - pastry shops - where you can buy mouth-watering delicacies, such as cassata, cannoli or almond pastries. or delicious ice cream. Remember Sicilian ice cream is the best!
Mazara and beaches:
Mazara, Italy’s major fishing port, has a charming promenade lined with palm trees (praised by the late Norman Lewis in his book 'In Sicily' by the way), and three piazzas in the historic centre, graced with beautiful baroque churches and civic buildings - even the remains of a Norman castle. Don't miss the beautiful bronze statue of a dancing satyr, a masterpiece of Greek art fished out out of the sea by a local fisherman and now housed in a dedicated museum.
There is a long and beautiful coastline with both sandy beaches and rocky coves where the sea is exceptionally limpid. In July and August the beach of Tonnarella offers the facilities of bars with deckchairs and beach umbrellas to rent. Further afield is the famous white sandy beach of San Vito Lo Capo and the nature reserve of Lo Zingaro, which can be reached in just over an hour.
Sightseeing:
The ancient Greek city of Selinunte by the sea is a 30 minute drive away. After exploring the ruins, go down to the nearby beach of Marinella, cool off in the sea and feast on delicious local fish at one of the seaside 'trattorie'. Half an hour in the other direction is the mysterious temple of Segesta, high up on a hill overlooking the valley. Nearby is the ancient Greek theatre. In 20 minutes you can reach Marsala, famous for wine, and don't miss the Punic Ship on display at the museum. Just beyond Marsala is the lagoon with salt pans and windmills. Visit the fascinating island of Mozia, once a Phoenician colony, and see the Punic remains, the museum and the beautiful Greek statue of a young boy. The medieval hilltop town of Erice, with its Norman castle, site of an ancient temple of Venus, is an hour's drive from Mazara. From Trapani or Marsala you can reach the lovely Egadi islands. Palermo, Sicily's exotic capital, and the Vale of Temples at Agrigento are easy day trips.
Other Activities:
kitesurfing
