Marsala

Marsala

Marsala is a historic port city on the westernmost tip of Sicily, Italy — famous as the landing point of Garibaldi's Expedition of the Thousand in 1860, as the birthplace of Sicily's most celebrated wine, and as the site of the extraordinary Punic naval shipwreck museum.

History

Founded as Lilybaeum by the Carthaginians in 397 BC after the destruction of nearby Motya, Marsala was a key Punic stronghold before Roman conquest in 241 BC. The Romans won the decisive First Punic War battle just offshore at the Egadi Islands. The city flourished under Arab rule as Marsa Allah (Port of God), giving it its current name. In May 1860, Giuseppe Garibaldi landed here with his Redshirts, launching the campaign that unified Italy. British merchant John Woodhouse discovered the potential of fortified local wine in 1796, founding the Marsala wine industry.

What to See

The Baglio Anselmi Archaeological Museum houses a reconstructed Punic warship from the Battle of the Egadi Islands (241 BC), unique in the world. The island of Mozia (San Pantaleo), reached by boat, holds the remains of a Phoenician city including a tophet sanctuary. The historic Cantine Florio and Donnafugata wineries offer tastings of Marsala wine. The Via XI Maggio runs through the atmospheric old centre lined with Baroque churches and the Porta Nuova gateway.

Getting There

Marsala is on the western tip of Sicily, 30 km south of Trapani and 130 km from Palermo. Trapani-Birgi airport is the nearest (30 minutes by car). Trains connect Marsala to Trapani and Palermo. Ferries to the Egadi Islands depart from Trapani.

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