Erice (Eryx) ( "Èrici" or "U Munti" in sicilian) is a city with a population of 28880 in the province of Trapani, on the same called name mountain. Erice was also the name of a mythological figure killed by Hercules.
The heart of the city is concentrated on the same mountain . Until the thirties it was called the Monte San Giuliano. Once it was one of the largest of Sicily, in fact, it also included areas that are very far from the capital : Valderice, Custonaci, Buseto Palizzolo and San Vito Lo Capo. Several groups complete the field at the foot of the mother mountain  (Casa Santa, Roccaforte, Rigaletta, only ballad, Napola, Pizzolungo, etc..) On the summit of Erice are only thousand inhabitants today. Craft feature: ceramics. Typical confectionery and biscuits: Genovese with cream, sweet shortcrust pastry with (enjoy the version with fresh cheese) and "Mustaccioli", biscuits of old tradition of monasteries.
Since 2005, the city is connected with the valley by  a modern gondola. According to Thucydides it was built  by the exiles Trojans, as they discovered the place for them ideal to settle down when they  escaped in  the Mediterranean Sea. According to legend, were the people of the Elymer the successor to the Trojans.
Virgil cited in the Eneiden with Enea, the was affected twice: first for the death of his father Anchises, a year later for the games in his honor. In Virgilios music is told  that in an even more distant time Hercules in the famous battle with the giant Erice struggling, and was precisely in the town, the young  Darete fought with the old Entello.

In ancient time among Segesta it was considered the most important city of the Elimian, in particular because it was the center of their  religious cult.  

During the First Punic War the general carthaginian Amilcare took over the fortification, and defended from there Lilibeo. From there is sent a part of the erecinian population in order to found Drepanon, todays Trapani.

For the Romans it was the "Venere Ericina" the first godess of the roman mythology which for the Greeks it was Afrodite.

Since 1963 it is home of scientific center Ettore Majorana, dedicated to scientific studies, initiated from the Professor Antonino Zicchini.

In 1990, followed by the first edition of the International Gastronomic Molecule, and from then on regular annual congress take place, obtaining officially recognition for the discipline of the gastronomic molecule.