Little "gem" embedded within the sea, the driving force for tourism growth of the entire County of Trapani, a small town originally with an agricultural and fishing economy, nowadays San Vito Lo Capo represents one of the most beautiful and well-known coastlines in Italy and Europe.

The Village and the Sanctuary

The village was built in the late 18th century, at the feet of the Monaco Mountain, in the shiny bay between Capo San Vito and Punta Solanto. The traditional belief leads back the town to the notable martyr San Vito, young patrician from Mazara who escaped from Diocletian persecution and sought refuge in the “Capo Egitarso” area. Here, he began preaching the word of God among local people, in a small village not far from the beach, called Conturrana, a place where however he was not welcome and so he was cast out together with his mentors Modesto and Cresenza. As soon as the three refugees left the village and head the sea, the wrath of God descended over the town, burying it entirely under a landslide. Also, in accordance with the tradition of Santa Crescenza, by looking at the town which was crumbling, it became rock in the same place where the chapel now arises on which still today local people believe in its magical powers.

The current village began to develop around the ancient Sanctuary devoted to San Vito, which originally was a Saracen fortress converted into a holy place and named after the Saint that shares the same title as the nowadays town. The main backbone of the village arose around the church as shelter-fortress to host the pilgrims and to defend them from bandits and Barbary corsairs. The increasing number of pilgrims that reached the holy town led to the construction of the first houses next to the fortress. At the end of the 18th century there was already a small group of houses surrounding the church. San Vito had placed the last stone. After several housing interventions, the church-fortress reached the actual size: 104 m wide foundation, 16 m height, with elements of civil, military and religious construction.

Nowadays "living the town" is a unique experience. Following Via Savoia, observing the typical low houses, the breath-taking view, the local shops, the indigenous plans boarding the streets, smiling people enlightened by the sun, the artistic landscape of white sand and palm trees, turquoise water crashing the paddle boats and canoes, the view of the entire golf, the typical fishing port of the 90s,the impressive lighthouse excels in the view, are all elements that enrapture your mind, dropping you in a paradisiacal context.