This town has a great location on the westernmost coast of Sicily, about 30 km south of Trapani. Like many other Sicilian towns, its roots can be traced way back to before Greek civilization, in fact to the time when the Phoenicians ruled these parts.
Marsala is probably most famous for its renowned dessert wine, which bears its name and which in recent years has become popular once again. But Marsala is also known as the place where Italy’s liberator, Garibaldi, landed his freedom fighters in the battle for Italy’s unification in the 19th century. You can also visit many of the town’s numerous wine cellars and taste their wonderful contents. There is a Greek/Roman archaeological park here in the town, which is home to some beautiful mosaics. The town’s cathedral was built under the Normans, but has undergone several restorations since. The interior of the cathedral has examples of some masterful craftsmanship.
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More and more people are beginning to visit the town in connection with its annual jazz festival ”Marsala Doc Jazz Festival” which is held in the middle of July. The jazz festival mainly features prominent Italian names but also manages to attract larger international names such as Chick Corea, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Burt Bacharach. It is arranged in cooperation with the internationally well renowned vineyard Donnafugata. Several concerts are therefore held in Donnafugata’s 200-year-old marsala wine cellar in Marsala.
If you like fine wine, we recommend a trip to Donnafugata. They gladly accept visitors, as long as you inform them in advance. Their red wines, in particular Milleunanotte and Tancredi, are fantastic. Also try their Passito di Pantelleria Ben Rye.
