Sciacca
Sciacca is a picturesque seaside town built on rocky heights that overlook the splendid beaches and the Mediterranean Sea midway between Marsala and Agrigento. Sciacca is noted mostly for its beautiful beaches, its numerous artisan shops which specialize in ceramic ware, and its Thermal Spa complex. The town of Sciacca is a 30-minute drive east from Selinunte and its temples and less than an hour's drive west from Agrigento.

Archeological evidence suggests that a settlement here was inhabited in prehistoric times as early as the Neolithic Era, and that Sciacca was a small Sicanian village. Greeks from nearby Selinunte came here to use the hot springs. Sciacca became known as "Thermae Selinuntinas" during the Roman period and reached a level of importance when the Roman emperor Diocletian designated the town to be the center of the imperial courier service for Sicily. Sciacca declined in importance after the ravages brought by the Germanic invasions, and didn't fare much better during the Byzantine period.

Ironically, the 9th century Saracen invasion of Sicily brought prosperity to Sciacca. The conquest also brought the town a new name. "Sciacca" is derived from an Arabic phrase, and although the exact meaning of the term is uncertain, most sources agree that it has something to do with the town's geographical position, possibly meaning "Rocky Heights" or "Seaside Cliffs." Under Arab rule, Sciacca became the principal Sicilian port for the export of Sicilian grain to North Africa, and the town's fishing industry thrived as well. Sciacca was bequeathed by Count Roger I to his daughter, Juliet in 1101. She had Christian churches and monasteries erected in place of the mosques. A bloody feud spawned in Sciacca in 1400 between the Norman Perollo clan and the Catalan Lunas family and lasted for more than a century.

Sciacca's Piazza di Scandaliato, a spacious and shaded seaside promenade, offers a spectacular view of the sea. It is and it also has many trees to provide shade on those torrid Sicilian summer afternoons. Many of the town's pubs, restaurants and shops are located here or nearby. The cathedral, located on the other side of the city hall, was built in the 12th century by the Normans and restructured in the 18th century. Luna Castle was built in 1380.

For Visitors: Although Sciacca has several interesting churches and monuments, the town is best known for its ceramics shops, seafood, famous Carnevale, thermal baths and beautiful beaches. The area's beaches are renowned for their splendid views, fine sands, clean and clear waters, and lack of overcrowding. Two of Sciacca's best beaches are the San Marco and the Contrada Sobareto. The tourist resort of "Torre Macauda", 9 kilometers east of town, offers beautiful, unspoiled beaches with splendid views, not to mention the usual tourist club amenities, at reasonable prices. The town is not overly crowded or overpriced. The Thermal Spa has an open-air pool available for use by the general public during the summer months and where the water is the same as the sulfurous water that is used for treatments in the establishment. Since Sciacca is a noted fishing port, its restaurants specialize in fresh seafood. The "Carnevale" festival, considered to be among Sicily's three top "Mardi Gras" parades, is of course, held every year the last few days before the beginning of Lent

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Special thanks to Best of Sicily