Marsala

Giuseppe Garibaldi in Sicily

Marsala, Latin Lilybaeum, town, western Sicily, Italy. It is situated on the Boeo Cape, also called Lilibeo, south of Trapani. It originated as Lilybaeum, which was founded by the Carthaginians in 397–396 bc after the destruction of the offshore island of Motya (modern San Pantaleo) by Dionysius I, tyrant of Syracuse. Serving as the Carthaginians’ principal stronghold in Sicily, it successfully resisted sieges by Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, and by the Romans but surrendered to the latter in 241 bc at the end of the First Punic War. Its present name dates from its occupation by the Saracens, who regarded the town’s harbour so highly that they called it Marsa ʿAlī (“Harbour of ʿAlī”), or Mars el-Allah (“Harbour of Allah”). The town declined in the 16th century after Emperor Charles V destroyed its old harbour to prevent its occupation by pirates. On May 11, 1860, the town was the site of the landing of Giuseppe Garibaldi and 1,000 of his “Redshirts” in their campaign to conquer the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Roman baths in the vicinity have been excavated. The town’s Baroque cathedral, dedicated to St. Thomas Becket, contains fine Flemish tapestries.

The town is surrounded by vineyards, and its chief industry is the production and export of Marsala wine, a blended wine of high alcoholic content that was first produced in the area in 1773. Fishing is also carried on. Pop. (2006 est.) mun., 81,884.