Marsala between Archaeology, Lagoon and Wine Culture

Those wishing to discover Marsala independently will encounter a combination of ancient archaeological sites, art, the history of the Mille, lagoon, water sports, quarry landscapes and wine. These topics help you plan your stay according to your own interests, combining culture, nature and activity.

Archaeology and Art in Marsala

On Mozia, the Museo Giuseppe Whitaker is housed in Giuseppe Whitaker’s former residence and preserves numerous finds from the excavations carried out there. It also houses the “statua del giovinetto,” a testament to the classical period that was discovered during an excavation campaign on Mozia at the end of the 1970s. In antiquity, Mozia was an important trading centre for exchanges between the East and the West.

The Museo archeologico regionale “Baglio Anselmi” houses the wreck of a Punic ship. The exhibition on underwater finds includes transport amphorae, anchor stocks and the cargoes of Arab-Norman wrecks found off Lido Signorino. In the Lilibeo Archaeological Park, the Roman insula includes the site of a large villa from the 3rd century AD with baths, cisterns and the remains of an early Christian necropolis.

The Flemish Triptych is a 16th-century work attributed to the Master of the Von Groote Adoration, a representative of the Antwerp school. The Convento del Carmine now houses a municipal art gallery with a permanent collection of more than 750 works of national and international standing. The modern Monumento ai Mille preserves and commemorates the history of the Mille. It includes photographs and documents about the Mille and the entire historical period, as well as an information point for visitors to the city.

History, Stone and Lagoon

Marsala’s Holy Week includes a Via Crucis with live performers on Maundy Thursday, which passes through the city’s main streets, as well as a depiction of the Crucifixion that same evening. In the Parco delle Cave, the underground limestone quarry landscape is considered a hidden city; it is shaped by the work of the quarrymen. The extraction of calcarenite sandstone can be traced back to the 7th century BC. Tufa blocks were initially quarried for the construction of Mozia and later for ancient Lilybaeum.

The Isole dello Stagnone archipelago covers 2,000 ha; the Riserva Naturale Orientata encompasses the lagoon and the islands of Mozia, Santa Maria and Schola. Along the coast around the Stagnone, there are schools for windsurfing, kitesurfing, canoeing and sailing, and the entire area has become a meeting place for water sports enthusiasts. From Capo Boeo, visitors can see the coast, the Aegadian Islands, the Stagnone and Monte Erice.

City Tour with a Wine Connection

The Strada del Vino route “Nel cuore di Marsala, fra storia e archeologia” is a city tour that can be completed on foot. In the historic Palazzo Fici, it includes an introduction to the area and a first tasting of local wines. For you, this tour therefore combines the urban setting, history and a tangible introduction to the local wine tradition.

Other places for planning your trip: Guarrato, Buseto Superiore, Petrosino, Kamma, Erice, Castelluzzo, Campobello Di Mazara, Fulgatore

For the main travel overview: Trapani.