Wine tourism and history in Marsala

Sicily, formerly a land of food and culture, is now also open to wine tourism. In particular, in the province of Marsala this is becoming increasingly popular, combining good wine with breathtaking sea and landscapes.

Located in the westernmost point of Sicily, with its 80,000 inhabitants, its small historic city center, and a mild climate, Marsala is a fascinating city, rich in history and traditions and known throughout the world for its fortified wine and great tradition in cultivation and winemaking.

The Punic ship, the archaeological park with its precious finds, and the city center with its monuments, churches, museums tell of a city with an important and prestigious past.

Among the protagonists of its long history were the Phoenicians (the city itself stands on the ruins of the ancient Punic city of Lilibeo) and Arabs (who called it "El Marsa Allah" or "the port of God", from which its current name).

The best way to visit the center of Marsala is without a doubt walking on foot. Entering from Porta Garibaldi, you will immerse yourself in a well-kept and welcoming historic center full of the history of Italy itself: it was precisely in Marsala that the famous landing of Garibaldi's Thousand in Sicily took place.

The churches of Marsala have impressive Baroque facades that reflect the general style of the city and the archaeological museum houses a couple of remains of Punic-Roman boats.

The city is located in a favorable position to easily and quickly reach many tourist destinations in Western Sicily such as Trapani, Erice, San Vito lo Capo, Segesta and Selinunte, Mazara del Vallo, while from the port of Marsala you can leave for the wonderful Egadi Islands.

When visiting Marsala, you cannot overlook a visit to the famous natural reserve of the Stagnone Islands, a paradise of white and pink dunes, mirrors of light and ancient mills.

In addition to the salt pans, the reserve is also famous for its pink flamingos, and is one of the few natural habitats in the world for Posidonia Oceanica, an aquatic plant that here creates entire underwater forests; for these reasons it is now a WWF protected area.

Let's not forget that here it is possible to have fun on a sailing boat in the waves of the Mediterranean or experience breathtaking emotions on surfboards or kites.

Inside the Stagnone reserve there is the Island of Mozia, one of the most important archaeological sites in the world.

As already mentioned, Marsala is also a city of food and wine with its flavors and its culinary specialties, the result of the best local tradition.

Marsala cuisine, like all Sicilian cuisine, is rich in colors, flavors, styles and imagination. Very ancient recipes are used, as result of the different cultures that have alternated in this land, and which bring with them the flavor of Greek, Roman, Arab and Spanish cuisine.

The hinterland of Marsala is green and luxuriant due to the immense expanses of vineyards planted with sapling, a form of farming of the ancient vine that represents a peculiarity of the territory.

There is a lot of wine cellars, many of which operate in the famous baglios, ancient farmhouses with internal courtyards, restored and refurbished that deserve to be visited for their history, but above all, for the wine that is produced in them.

If you have chosen Marsala for a holiday you cannot help but visit one of the many historic establishments for the production of Marsala wine and liqueur.