Overview of Marsala
Marsala is a city located in the Trapani Province of Sicily, which is on the western side of the island. This city is the most populated one in its province and considered 5th in population size for the entire island. As with most of the cities and towns on the island, Marsala is built on top of ruins, with this one being the ruins of Lilybaeum, which is a city of Ancient Carthage.
View of Marsala from a Distance
While not as popular as most tourist destinations in Italy, Marsala still has its fair share of noteworthy tourist must-see places and monuments. From religious architecture to military structures to civil structures left behind by previous occupants, the city has quite a number for you to check out and explore. One thing you may be familiar with when the name of this city is mentioned is Marsala wine, which is produced in this region and can be sometimes sweet or dry.
Where to Go and What to See
Marsala has a number of notable ruins and structures that you can explore to your heart’s content. These include museums, churches, ports, and piazzas. These also include palaces, ancient theaters, and ancient structures that show you a bit of the city’s past.Museo Archeologico Baglio Anselmi – This archeological museum houses some of the pieces of Marsala’s past, including the remains of a Carthaginian ship that that sunk off one of the islands nearby. Aside from some of the cargo, the partially reconstructed ship in this museum also shows evidence of the city’s seafaring past.
Insula Romana – If archeology is your cup of tea, then this archeological site is worth your time. This is the ruins of a villa that was built in 3rd century AD, with two smaller structures just south of the main building. The ruins showed that it had numerous rooms surrounding an atrium, with the area having other buildings such as warehouses, walls, and even tombs.
Chiesa Madre – One of the many churches found in this city, the Parrocchia San Tommaso di Canterbury Chiesa Madre is Marsala’s “mother church”. This cathedral or Duomo is a church built in the 17th century and is dedicated to St Thomas of Canterbury. One of the most notable features found in this church is its ancient organ with its 4,317 pipes.
What to Do
Of course, aside from exploring these interesting architectural wonders and ancient ruins, you should also find time to enjoy the other things that Marsala has to offer, and these include food, wine, and the local beaches where you can take a dip in the wonderful waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Freshly Made Sicilian Pizza
Marsala Wine Tasting – Where better to get a taste of some of the best Marsala Wine than in, well, Marsala! Head on over to one of the many wine shops in the city and try out a selection of some of the best wines in the region and pair these with some of the best local cold cuts and cheese that they can offer. You can also enjoy these wines with some local anchovies and lemon.
People Watch While Eating Sicilian Pizza – Take a lazy day off from exploring ruins and museums to enjoy a great slice or two of Sicilian pizza while watching the locals of this city pass you by. There are plenty of outdoor tables for you to pick from in one of the many great restaurants located along Via XI Maggio in order to do this. Not in the mood for pizza? Choose from a wide selection of Italian food being served by these ristorante, which can include antipasti, pasta, seafood, and many more.
A trip to Sicily won’t be complete without dropping by this city where Marsala wine is produced. You can create a custom trip to this part of the country by going through Agrigento, then to neighboring Erice, before arriving at this wine and seafood town.
