Its name comes from Eryx, which means mountain. It is built on the summit of Mount San Giuliano Trapani, elevation; 571 m. Very old and naturally fortified city, it was the seat of one of the most famous pagan sanctuaries dedicated to the goddess of fertility, the Astute of the Phoenicians, the Aphrodit of the Greeks and the Venus so-called Ericina by the Romans. Protective goddess of the navigators, it was venerated by all the diverse populations of the Mediterranean. During the Roman age, while this fortified city was losing its importance, the sanctuary was destined to be to the head religious confederation in which 17 Sicilian cities participated, and at the same time protected by a Roman garrison. Under Tiber, the sacred era was restored, while keeping its primitive sacrificial religious importance. This Carthaginian fortified castle was conquered by Pyrrhic in 277 BC. and was then recaptured by the Punics in 275 BC. During the first war in 260 BC., it was destroyed by the Carthaginian strengths, and the population was deported to Drepane, today Trapani. Around 831 the fortress was occupied by the Arabs and took the name of Gebel-Hamed. With the arrival of the Normans in the XII century begins a period of big prosperity with the repopulation of the city and the radical interventions on the urban cloth that constitutes the particular face of Erice. In the XVIII century, the Pepoli turret was erected by the count Agostino Pepoli, also known as the Balio castle. Today from the public garden one can enjoy a spectacular panorama on the Valley of Erice.