Historical outline. San Vito Lo Capo was established at the end of the 18th century in the territory of Erice at the feet of Mt. Monaco, in the pure white bay between Capo San Vito and Punta Solanto. But the history of this sunny town certainly goes back further in time. Traces of the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic ages are found in the many natural caves, which were once homes, that overlook the sea. The existence of an ancient village called Conturrana remains shrouded in mystery. It's an enormous cliff 500 yards from the shore detached from the mountain. Here, probably around the end of the 4th century BC, there was a small residential centre and a fishing facility.

The beating heart of the town of San Vito is the current Santuario, an ancient Saracen fortress that over the centuries has undergone numerous rounds of construction. The first work done around the 14th century was for the small chapel dedicated to the martyr St. Vitus, the town's patron saint. According the legend, the young Vitus (actually born in Mazara del Vallo), after converting to Christianity, was forced to leave the town to avoid persecutions by the emperor Diocletian. He was accompanied by his nurse Crescenza.

While desperately fleeing, Vitus, just twenty, met his death due to an avalanche that buried the town in which the youth and his nurse had found harbour. Also according to the myth, Saint Crescenza, turning to look at the city as it crumbled, turned to stone at the same spot where the chapel now stands, to which the residents of the place still attribute magical powers.

Over time, the fame of the church grew and miracles were attributed to the martyr Vitus and Saint Crescenza. So, to accommodate the many faithful who came on pilgrimages - and especially to defend them from thieves and bandits, the original structure was transformed into a fortress/lodge. That work dates back to the end of the 15th century.
Meanwhile, dangers increased of invasions from barbarian pirates. Therefore, along the island's coastlines, numerous watchtowers began to be built. The Sanctuary was also fortified with a tower. At the beginning of the 18th century the first houses appeared all around the structure. At the end of the same century, around the church there was already a small core of residences. This was the beginning of San Vito Lo Capo.
Over the span of the centuries, the town welcomed many explorers, travellers, and even government representatives who, motivated by curiosity, cultural or military interests, prepared detailed and interesting descriptions of the geography of the places visited.