Editing Erice (section)

=== Modern Period ===
Following a peak of civic influence in the 18th century, Erice entered a prolonged period of demographic and institutional decline. In the late 18th century, Bourbon land reforms redistributed public lands through [[emphyteusis]], encouraging rural settlement and the formation of new villages such as [[Custonaci]] and [[San Vito Lo Capo]]. As administrative functions shifted to larger centres like [[Trapani]], many noble families and residents relocated, leaving the hilltop town increasingly depopulated and economically peripheral.<ref name="Tusa2017" />

In the 19th century, new efforts to preserve and beautify the historic town emerged. The [[Balio Gardens]] (''Giardino del Balio'') were created in 1872 by Count Agostino Sieri Pepoli, who leased the Balio Towers (''Torri del Balio'') and surrounding grazing land from the city. In return, he restored the towers and developed a public garden. He also built the Pepoli Turret (''Torretta Pepoli''), a small neo-Gothic building set on a rocky outcrop to the east of the gardens.<ref name="Tusa2017" />
 
In 1934, the town of Monte San Giuliano was renamed Erice. Just five years later, in 1939, the Second World War began. A Luftwaffe Operations Centre (associated with ''[[Zerstörergeschwader 26]]'' and ''[[Jagdgeschwader 27]]'' which operated out of the nearby [[Trapani–Milo Airport]] was located on the slopes of Monte Erice from early 1943 until they were forced by Allied air raids to relocate.<ref name= Holland>{{cite book |last= Holland |first= James |title= Sicily '43: The First Assault on Fortress Europe |year= 2020 |location= London |publisher= Bantam Press |pages= 383 |type= Hardback |isbn= 978-1-7876-3293-6}}</ref>   Following the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943 troops of the 2nd Battalion of the [[505th Infantry Regiment (United States)| 505th Infantry Regiment]] [[Seventh United States Army| Seventh Army]] under the command of Major Mark Alexander began on 22 July 1943 to climb up the side of Monte Erice in order to secure the town and its commanding position overlooking the surrounding countryside. As they did so they came under artillery fire from Italian forces stationed on the ramparts with one soldier being killed and another wounded. Realising that the safest position was directly under the walls of town, the lead troops took shelter there. Rather than waiting on artillery support to arrive the decision was then made for F Company to attack. However, before the troops had come close enough to engage them the Italian forces signalled their surrender.<ref name= Holland/>

Erice emerged from the post-war period with much of its medieval character remarkably intact. In more recent decades, efforts to preserve and restore this heritage began in earnest, with restoration of the ancient city walls starting in the 1970s and continuing with a €2 million consolidation project approved in 2023 under Italy’s PNRR programme. The Balio Gardens were restored between 2019 and 2024, and additional works—such as the renewal of the San Nicola sports field and Porta Spada gymnasium—have improved recreational infrastructure with a combined investment of over €3 million.<ref>{{cite web |title=Approvato in linea amministrativa il progetto dei "Lavori di restauro e consolidamento delle Mura Elimo-Puniche della Città di Erice" |url=https://www.comune.erice.tp.it/it/news/119798/approvato-in-linea-amministrativa-il-progetto-dei-lavori-di-restauro-e-consolidamento-delle-mura-elimo-puniche-della-citta-di-erice |website=Comune di Erice |date=19 June 2023 |language=it |access-date=23 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Erice, lo storico Giardino del Balio torna al suo antico splendore |url=https://trapani.gds.it/articoli/economia/2023/11/18/erice-lo-storico-giardino-del-balio-torna-al-suo-antico-splendore-d0d735da-105d-4648-acd7-0670df6c5eae/ |website=Giornale di Sicilia |date=18 November 2023 |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Campo San Nicola e palestra Porta Spada, al via i lavori delle opere pubbliche finanziate con fondi PNRR (€1.450.000,00 e €1.714.524,85) |url=https://www.comune.erice.tp.it/it/news/119794/campo-san-nicola-e-palestra-porta-spada-al-via-i-lavori-delle-opere-pubbliche-finanziate-con-fondi-pnrr-1-450-000-00-e-1-714-524-85 |website=Comune di Erice |date=15 November 2023 |language=it |access-date=23 May 2025}}</ref>

Recent studies have called for more inclusive and sustainable heritage strategies to address long-term challenges such as depopulation, inaccessibility, and seasonal tourism pressures. Proposals include the creation of accessible walking routes, a wellbeing park near the ancient walls, and improved visitor resources such as digital guides and interpretive signage. These efforts aim to balance conservation priorities with broader goals of health, community engagement, and inclusive cultural access.<ref name="conservation">{{cite conference | last1 = Abbate| first1 = Giuseppe | last2 = Germanà | first2 = Maria Luisa | last3 = Savarese | first3 = Raffaele |last4 = Trapani | first4 = Ferdinando | title = From Conservation to Revitalization. Ambiguous and Critical Conditions in the Heritage Conservation Experiences of Erice | book-title = Conservation of Architectural Heritage | year = 2022 | pages = 239–258 | publisher = Springer | chapter = 1}}</ref>