Balestrate

Balestrate is a municipality of 6,500 people (2015) in Palermo Province, Sicily. Balestrate's population swells up to almost 30,000 during the summer season with vacationing Europeans and Italians from the colder climates seeking the warm water and sun. It is in the middle of the gulf of Castellammare, at about 50 km both from Palermo and Trapani.

Understand

Balestrate originated in the 17th century around the tonnara of the Fardella's family. At first it was called Sicciara, that is the place where they fished cuttlefish (siccia in Sicilian). On March 29th 1820, thanks to the decree of King Ferdinand I of Bourbon, this maritime village took the name of Balestrate. The name is derived from an anecdote: in 1307 King Frederick II of Aragon, fell in love with the beauties of its sea and beaches and reserved the sovranity of those places for a width as large as a pulling from a crossbow.

Get in

By plane
  • 🌍 Palermo-Punta Raisi Airport (Aeroporto Falcone e Borsellino), ☏ +39 0917020273. You can reach Balestrate, at about 45 km, through the A29 Motorway (towards Trapani, junction for Balestrate). The airport is linked by train or shuttle bus to Alcamo (at 12 km from Balestrate). You can get the http://www.rome2rio.com/it/s/Aeroporto-Palermo-PMO/Balestrate-Italia train going from Punta Raisi to Balestrate railway station. From this airport there are home and international flights and several low cost connections; many touristic and charter flights in summer. (updated May 2016)
  • 🌍 Trapani-Birgi Airport (Aeroporto Vincenzo Florio), contrada Birgi, Trapani (60 km from Balestrate), ☏ +39 0923 610111, . You can arrive to Balestrate through the A29 Motorway Trapani-Punta Raisi and going out at the junction for Balestrate. Shuttle bus services are carried out by Terravision and Salemi for Trapani and Palermo. From and to Trapani Birgi there are home, European and low cost flights. Seasonal touristic flights also in summer. (updated May 2016)

There are also taxi and shuttle bus services from Palermo and Trapani airports as far as Alcamo (for information phone: Gabellone Viaggi e turismo, Viale Italia, 31, phone: +39 0924 505955).

By car

You can easily reach Balestrate from Palermo, at about 40 km, or from Trapani, at about 60 km, through the A29 Palermo-Mazara del Vallo. For further information see the link: Autostrade Italiane - Automap.it (http://www.automap.it/autostrade/)

By ship

By train

You can go to Balestrate by catching a train on the line Palermo-Trapani (the railway station is in the town centre).

By bus

There are different bus services from Palermo, Alcamo or Castellammare del Golfo.

Get around

Balestrate has a strategic position: in fact it is in the middle of the Gulf of Castellammare and between the provinces of Palermo and Trapani. It is few kilometres from places of great touristic appeal like Palermo, Monreale, Segesta, Erice, Mozia, riserva Naturale dello Zingaro, Oasi Capo Rama. West of the town there is a large beach with a promenade, with strips of free beach, but also bathing establishments with every comfort. East of Balestrate the coastline is made up of a large beach with fine sand, and again free beach and bathing establishments. There is a quite appealing Site of Community Importance, a wood which represents the only equipped area, where you can have healthy and relaxing walks being plungled into nature.

See
  • Calatubo castle (at about 5 km). (updated May 2016)
  • Chiesa di S.Pietro (Saint Peter's church). (updated May 2016)
  • 🌍 Chiesa di S.Anna (Matrice), Piazza Rettore Evola,56, ☏ +39 091 8786135. (updated May 2016)
  • Sanctuary of Madonna del Ponte. (updated May 2016)
  • Remains of the old borgo, Tonnara Fardella. (updated May 2016)

Do
  • Tiro a segno (target-shooting), Contrada Bosco Falconeria (S.S 113 Km 316 Partinico), ☏ +39 339 6578779. (updated May 2016)

Beach life
  • Lido Copacabana, Lungomare "F. D'Anna" Spiaggia Ovest. Beach club (updated May 2016)
  • Lido Ipanema, Lungomare "F. D'Anna" Spiaggia Ovest. Beach club (updated May 2016)
  • Lido Lagoa, Lungomare "F. D'Anna" Spiaggia Ovest. Beach club (updated May 2016)
  • Lido Le Blond, Lungomare "F. D'Anna" Spiaggia Ovest. (updated May 2016)
  • Lido Le Grotte, Lungomare "F. D'Anna" Spiaggia Ovest. Beach club (updated May 2016)
  • Lido Lo Squalo Beach, Contrada Foce Spiaggia Est. Beach club (updated May 2016)
  • Lido Oricao, Lungomare "F. D'Anna" Spiaggia Ovest. Beach club (updated May 2016)

Buy
  • Banca Don Rizzo (Credito Cooperativo della Sicilia Occidentale), Via Roma, 90. (updated May 2016)
  • Unicredit SpA, Piazza Rettore Evola, 1. (updated May 2016)
  • Bar Tabacchi Tropicana, Contrada Forgitella Spiaggia Ovest. (updated May 2016)
  • Frutti di Mare da Giovanni, Via Madonna del Ponte Ovest, ☏ +39 091 8786605. (updated May 2016)
  • La Perla, Via P. Gesugrande, 40, ☏ +39 091 878 7592. Seafood (updated May 2016)
  • Sapori di Mare, Via Madonna del Ponte, ☏ +39 091 8786158. Seafood (updated May 2016)

Eat

Budget
  • Bella Piazza, Piazza Rettore Evola. Spaghetteria. (updated May 2016)
  • Carpe Diem, Via Madonna del Ponte, 76. Rotisserie (updated May 2016)
  • 🌍 Cavallino Bianco, Contrada Piano Tresca, ☏ +39 091 898 7272. Pizzeria (updated May 2016)
  • Dèjà Vu, Via P. Gesugrande, 32, ☏ +39 03807934429. 06:30-22:30, closed Thursday. Pizzeria, refreshments. (updated May 2016)
  • El Tiburo'n, Via G. Garibaldi (at the corner of Via Repubblica). Pizzeria and take away. (updated May 2016)
  • La Capannuccia, Lungomare "Felice D'Anna" Spiaggia Ovest (west beach). Pizzeria (updated May 2016)
  • Lo Squalo, Contrada Foce Spiaggia Est (east beach), ☏ +39 091 8786382. Pizzeria (updated May 2016)
  • Onda Azzurra, Contrada Foce Spiaggia Est (east beach), ☏ +39 091 8786595. Pizzeria. (updated May 2016)
  • Paramaribo, Via Libertà, 28, ☏ +39 334 3478101. Pizzeria and take away (updated May 2016)
  • Piccola Palermo, Via P. Gesugrande, 22, ☏ +39 091 8787271. Rotisserie (updated May 2016)
  • Pizza in Piazza, Piazza Rettore Evola, ☏ +39 091 8787601. Pizzeria and take away. (updated May 2016)
  • Sabbia D'Oro, Contrada Forgitella Spiaggia Ovest (west beach), ☏ +39 091 8987319. Pizzeria (updated May 2016)
  • Taxi Pizza, Via Madonna del Ponte, 36, ☏ +39 091 8786535. Pizzeria and take away. (updated May 2016)
  • 🌍 Terra Mia (Pizza e Passione), Via Madonna del Ponte,72 Balestrate (100 metri prima della Piazza Rettore Evola), ☏ +39 328 172 5489, . Th-Tu 17:00-24:00. Very good pizzas with vegetarian options and for celiacs; best quality ingredients and cheap prices. Very kind waiters. Seats outside. Accessibility for disabled people. €9-23. 

Medium range
  • La Sicciara, Via Madonna del Ponte, ☏ +39 091 878 7099. Restaurant, pizzeria. (updated May 2016)
  • Oltremare, Via Madonna del Ponte, 105, ☏ +39 339 169 3858. Restaurant (updated May 2016)
  • Rosa dei Venti, Via Madonna del Ponte, ☏ +39 091 8987497. Restaurant, pizzeria. (updated May 2016)
  • Trattoria dalla Nonna, Via Madonna del Ponte, 82, ☏ +39 091 8786574. Restaurant, pizzeria. (updated May 2016)
  • 🌍 La Buona Forchetta, Via Madonna del Ponte, 76, ☏ +39 393 979 2343. A genuine cuisine and a cosy restaurant. You will find fresh and well cooked fish. (updated May 2016)
  • 🌍 La Balestra, Via Madonna del Ponte, ☏ +39 388 863 1351. With a wonderful view on the sea, there is a menu with a large choice of meat and fish dishes. the restaurant has also celiac foodstuffs. Moreover you will find a pizzeria with a wood oven and outdoor tables too. (updated May 2016)

Drink
  • 🌍 Bacco's Pub (Nichida Service), Piazza Rettore Evola, ☏ +39 091 8987955. Pub. (updated May 2016)
  • Black & White, Via Repubblica. Pub. (updated May 2016)
  • Blanko Pub, Piazza Rettore Evola, ☏ +39 091 8787601. (updated May 2016)
  • La Piazzetta, Via Della Repubblica, 74, ☏ +39 091 8787830. Pub (updated May 2016)
  • Why Not?, Via Della Repubblica, 90, ☏ +39 388 751 9148. Pub. (updated May 2016)

Sleep

Budget
  • Casa sul Mare, Via della Repubblica,13, ☏ +39 328 944 9872. Bed and breakfast. (updated May 2016)
  • Residence Valentina, Contrada Giardini, ☏ +39 091 987142, fax: +39 091 41 52 16, . Every flat has an independent entrance, living room, TV, free Wifi, kitchen and a bathroom with shower. There are also a garden, an open-air swimming-pool and a barbecue. Free car-park. The residence is at about 500 metres from shops, supermarkets and restaurants. €95 for 4 people, 2 bedrooms. (updated May 2016)
  • Fattoria Manostalla (Villa Chiarelli), Contrada Manostalla, ☏ +39 091 8787033, . The farm is an old baglio of the first decades of Ottocento, a property of Jesuits at the time and used as a place for praying: it is located in one of the most characteristic landscapes of rural Sicily and near the Calatubo Castle. The restaurant suggests its typical products: oil, milk, cheese, ricotta, vegetables and sheep and beef meat from its production. Old recipes of ancient tradition are prepared with these products. €70. (updated May 2016)
  • Residence "Eloisa", Via Madonna del Ponte 96 (About 800 metres from the beach), ☏ +39 091 87 86 979, +39 331 10 84 572. Has flats with free Wifi, air conditioning, TV, kitchen, bathroom with a shower and phone. Sea view from the balcony. In front of it there is a bus-stop with services for Palermo and San Vito Lo Capo. €4. (updated May 2016)
  • Residence Villaggio Petruso, Contrada Sicciarotta, ☏ +39 091 8787572, +39 091 842 0462, fax: +39 091 8787572, . It has a terrace with solarium and an open-air swimming-pool with a view on the Gulf of Castellammare. Free Wifi inside the flats and outside; you can also play darts, table-tennis and billiards. All the rooms have air conditioning, TV, fridge, kitchen and private bathroom. €45/60. (updated May 2016)

Medium range
  • Baglio Carta, Contrada Bosco Falconeria S.P. 17, ☏ +39 091 8789279, +39 339 4062869, . €80. (updated May 2016)
  • 🌍 Casa Ruffino, Via Madonna del Ponte, 49 (near Via Crispi), ☏ +39 091 8787114, +39 342 1507679, +39 380 1399314, . Check-in: 14:00-24:00, check-out: 08:00-11:00. The bed and breakfast Ruffino is located in the 19th-century Palazzo Ruffino; the rooms have air conditioning, TV, private bathrooms and the hotel has free Wi-Fi and free parking for guests. Their typical Sicilian breakfast includes sweet and savory food. €60/90. (updated May 2016)
  • Costa Azul, Contrada Forgia Spiaggia Est (About 150 metres from the beach and one mile from Balestrate), ☏ +39 091 8786994, +39 3466557372, . Has rooms with air conditioning, veranda and TV. The rooms facing the sea or the swimming-pool have TV, minibar and private bathroom with phone and courtesy set. There are also a bar, reading room or solarium terrace, swimming-pool with a hydromassage area. €84. (updated May 2016)
  • Hotel del Golfo, Via Madonna del Ponte, 109A, ☏ +39 091 8786328. (updated May 2016)

Splurge
  • 🌍 Marina Holiday Hotel, Via del Mare, ☏ +39 091 878 6401, . Located in three groups of buildings in the touristic port, the hotel has a fitness centre(with hydromassage bath and sauna), a terrace facing the sea and free Wifi. The elegant rooms have conditioned air and Tv, private bathroom with hair-drier and some of them have a hydromassage bath. At the restaurant you can taste the dishes of Mediterranean diet. There is also a meeting centre well equipped. €105. (updated May 2016)
  • Il Baglio Della Luna Relais, Contrada Bosco Falconeria SS 113 km 318,200, Partinico, PA, ☏ +39 0918789106, +39 3450736557. Check-in: 16:00-20:00, check-out: 09:30-11:00. Located in a garden, the Bagliois inside a restored fortress. Very tranquil because it is far from the roads and at about 7 km from the sea. Free Wifi and car-park. All the rooms, furnished in an elegant way, are different; they include private bathroom, conditioned air, Tv, minibar, hair-drier. Breakfast is also included. Animals not admitted. (updated May 2016)

Stay safe
  • Carabinieri's post headquarters, Via Madonna del Ponte-Est, 76, ☏ +39 091 8786141. (updated May 2016)
  • Carabinieri's post, Via Libertà 15, ☏ +39 091 8787500, fax: +39 091 8787500. (updated May 2016)
  • 🌍 Farmacia D'Arrigo Antonina, Via Madonna del Ponte, 44, ☏ +39 091 8786121. (updated May 2016)
  • Farmacia Zangara Gaspare, Via Madonna del Ponte, 10. (updated May 2016)
  • First-Aid Station (Guardia medica), Via Giliberti,42, ☏ +39 091 8786790. (updated May 2016)
  • Traffic Police (Polizia Municipale), Via Mattarella, 10, ☏ +39 091 898 0059. (updated May 2016)

Connect

Post Office
  • 🌍 Poste Italiane Spa, Via S. Giovanni Bosco, 27, ☏ +39 091 898 7381, fax: +39 091 8787378. M-F 08:30-13:30, Sa 08:30-12:30. (updated May 2016)

Internet
  • 🌍 Blue Sky, Via Madonna del Ponte, 84, ☏ +39 091 878 6170, . Restaurants and acitivity of mobile restoration, internet café. (updated May 2016)
  • Simsalabim, Via Madonna del ponte 45, ☏ +39 091 878 6781. Tourists' assistance, info point, internet point, transfers from Palermo and Trapani airports, /Birgi, tour of Sicily, car and bike rent, tour by boat, holiday houses, hotels and restaurants bookings. (updated May 2016)

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