Lake Pergusa, upon whose shores and
neighboring fields the young Persephone is said to have played, is also believed to be the
place from which she was taken by Hades to the underworld.
"In antiquity Erice was a religious center famous for its temple consecrated to Astarte, then to Aphrodite and finally Venus who was venerated by mariners of old."
A solitary peak a small distance from the promitory town of Erice reveals the ancient location of the temple dedicated to the goddess of love and beauty.
Within its walls stands this ancient well. It is said that when the Goddess of love bathed here, the well would fill with milk.
Walking back to town I imagined what it would be like to be raised in the misty, magical Erice high above the vulgar bustle of Trapani below.
I asked myself What beauty still manifests here? I went on to have a cappuccino at the bar in the main square. After my coffee, I looked up and caught the eye of the barmaid. Our eyes met for a moment and even though we didn't exchange a word, I left knowing that Erice still bathes in the blessings of the Goddess.