In the Roman period the gulf of Castellammare was called "Sinus Aegestanus", referring to the ancient town of Segesta, which still has some ruins (the temple and the theatre).

In 1714 it was called "golfo di Longuro or Longarico" by Guglielmo del'Isle in his geographical map, referring to the old town centre existing near the present Alcamo.

[1] Along the gulf from east to west are, in sequence, the communes of Terrasini, Trappeto, Balestrate, Alcamo, Castellammare del Golfo and San Vito Lo Capo.

In 2010 they also formed the "Local Action Group Gulf of Castellammare", involving different communes, economic subjects, associations and professional organizations, to form a joint plan of local development for the territory of the Gulf of Castellammare.

On the eastern end of the gulf is the Riserva naturale orientata Capo Rama [it], while west of Castellammare towards San Vito Lo Capo is the Zingaro nature reserve (Riserva naturale dello Zingaro), and Scopello with its stacks and almadraba (tonnara).