The Historic Centre of Marsala
Strolling through the streets of Marsala’s historic centre means crossing more than two thousand years of history, among Punic traces, Arab-Norman atmospheres and elegant baroque façades just steps from the sea.
A dive into history
The city was founded in 397 BC as Lilybaeum, established by the Carthaginians as the last great stronghold in Sicily before the Roman conquest, which came in 241 BC at the end of the First Punic War. Centuries later, in the Arab period, the port took the name “Marsa Allah” or “Marsa Ali”, from which the present name Marsala derives.
The historic centre still preserves the layout of narrow alleys and white houses typical of the Arab-Norman period, while the churches and noble palaces overlooking the main squares tell of the city’s baroque splendour, rebuilt several times after earthquakes and sieges. Among the landmark monuments are the Mother Church dedicated to St Thomas Becket and Porta Garibaldi, the ancient monumental gate that once marked the entrance to the walled city.
Marsala is also a symbolic city of the Italian Risorgimento: on 11 May 1860 Giuseppe Garibaldi landed here with the Thousand, launching the expedition that would lead to the Unification of Italy. That landing is still commemorated today along the Lungomare Boeo.
Curiosities to discover
- The name “Marsala” is said to come from the Arabic “Marsa Allah”, the Port of God, or from “Marsa Ali”.
- The San Pietro Complex houses a museum dedicated to Garibaldi and the Risorgimento.
- The Museum of Flemish Tapestries holds precious sixteenth-century tapestries depicting the capture of Jerusalem.
- The Baglio Anselmi Museum preserves the remains of a Punic ship found off the coast of Marsala, a witness to the Battle of the Aegates.
- Beneath the historic centre run ancient passages once used by wine merchants to move barrels between the historic bagli.
Come and visit us in Marsala: from Zi Mari, on Via Abele Damiani, the historic centre is just steps away, ready to be discovered among alleys and squares.
Photo gallery
Photos of the historic centre will be published soon.