Marsala: Guide, Hotels, Map & Photos
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EUR 47 - 140 Hotel President
 Hotel President is a modern and functional building. Our restaurant combines splendid local and international cuisine. We have reception and banquet r… MoreEUR 75 - 220 New Hotel Palace
 Situated on the seafront in Marsala, New Hotel Palace offers an outdoor swimming pool, a sea-view terrace, and excellent cuisine. The Chiesa Madre Chu… MoreEUR 50 - 150 Residence Le Saline Snc
 Residence Le Saline Snc is located in Marsala, one of the most evocative areas of Sicily. Enjoy peace and tranquillity all year round.
Leaving Le Sal… MoreEUR 50 - 145 Hotel Centrale
 Located in the historical centre of Marsala, near the sea, the hotel occupies a strategic position from which you can enjoy several walking excursions… MoreEUR 70 - 180 Hotel Carmine
 Located in an elegant, historic building, Hotel Carmine offers a central position, a charming atmosphere and beautifully decorated rooms.
Hotel Carmi… MoreEUR 55 - 70 Holiday Residence Marsala
 Offering spacious apartments with air conditioning and a fully equipped kitchenette with washing machine, Holiday Residence is in the historic centre … MoreEUR 60 - 170 Hotel & Resort Villa Favorita
 Hotel & Resort Villa Favorita is deeply connected to the history and culture of Marsala, and vice versa. Enjoy a pleasant stay in a truly historic est… MoreEUR 80 - 350 Best Western Hotel Stella d´Italia
 Overlooking Marsala´s beautiful Chiesa Madre church, Hotel Stella d´Italia dates back to 1873. It features a prestigious collection of con… More | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Marsala: Guide
for the wine, see Marsala (wine)
Marsala is a seaport city located in the Province of Trapani on the island of Sicily in Italy. The low coast on which it is situated is the westernmost point of the island. It is best known as the source of Marsala wine.
Marsala occupies the site of Lilybaeum, the principal stronghold of the Carthage|Carthaginians in Sicily, founded by Himilco in 396 BC after the abandonment of Motya. Neither Pyrrhus of Epirus|Pyrrhus nor the Romans were able to reduce it by siege, but it was surrendered to the latter in 241 BC at the end of the First Punic War. In the later wars it was a starting point for the Roman expeditions against Carthage, and under Roman rule it enjoyed considerable prosperity. It obtained municipal rights from Augustus and became a colony under either Pertinax or Septimius Severus.
The Saracens gave it its present name "Marsala" which is deriving from the Arab "Marsa Allah" (port of Allah) or "Marsa Ali" ("port of Ali" intended also as "great port" as Ali in Arabian language is synonymous of "great" and the ancient harbour of Lylibaeum was enormous). The ancient harbor that lay on the northeast was destroyed by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V to prevent its occupation by pirates. The modern harbor lies to the southeast.
On May 11, 1860, Giuseppe Garibaldi and his "thousand" landed at Marsala and began his campaign to overthrow Bourbon house|Bourbon rule in Sicily as a step toward Italy's unification.
Main sights
Little remains of the ancient Lilybaeum (fragments of the city walls, of squared stones, and some foundations of buildings between the walls and the sea) are visible; and the so-called grotto and spring of the Sibyl may be mentioned. To the east of the town is a great fosse which defended it on the land side, and beyond this again are quarries like those of Syracuse, Italy|Syracuse on a small scale. The modern town takes the shape of the Roman camp within the earlier city, one of the gates of which still existed in 1887. The main street (the Cassaro) perpetuates the name castrum.
See also
Florio
This "Travel Guide" section is drawn from the Wikipedia article "Marsala". We hope you will edit and improve it. It is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.