Many know about its fruity-tasting fortified wine, but few people realize what a charmer the Sicilian coastal town of Marsala is. While being proud of their dry, flavorsome amber nectar, its inhabitants are equally enthusiastic about their town’s fascinating, multicultural history, spanning many millennia.

Marsala, from the Arabic Mars-el-Allah, harbor of God, lies at the westernmost promontory of Sicily, on Cape Lilybaeum. The origin of its very name gives us a sense of just how important this delightful port town once was. Its strategic location at the true heart of the Mediterranean quickly turned it into a major commercial hub, growing wealthy from the spoils of international trade to and from Africa.

Before the Arabs were the Ancient Romans, and before the Romans, the Carthaginians, the Ancient Greeks, and the Phoenicians. Then came the Vandals, Byzantines, Normans, Moorish, Swabians, Angevins, Bourbons, Catalans, and Brits, just to mention a few. Each wave of civilization has left a legacy of cultural richness that manifests itself in the local architecture, cuisine, and traditions.

A rare gem on the northwestern rim of triangle-shaped Sicily, to which millions of Italo-Americans trace their ancestry, Marsala is really worth visiting now, before it might get too popular. Luscious beaches, vibrant culture, stellar food and wine, copious sunshine, luxury accommodation, and plenty of water-based activities – check, check, and check. The charming seaside town of Marsala has something for every type of traveler. Here’s everything you need to see and do.

What to do in Marsala

Deemed as Italy’s cultural powerhouse, Marsala boasts a mostly pedestrianized, recently restored centro storico lined with excellent seafood restaurants, al fresco cafés, amber-colored Baroque churches, and little shops selling locally produced food, handmade pasta, and extra-virgin olive oil.

At every turn you find references to Giuseppe Garibaldi, the Hero of the Two Worlds, because this is where he landed with his red-shirted band of volunteers in May 1860, intent on bringing the island of Sicily into the new Italy.
One of the must-see attractions in Marsala is the wreck of a Punic warship preserved in the Baglio Anselmi Archaeological Museum, housed in an old wine cellar.

Vineyard-hopping and wine-tasting

World-renowned for its full-bodied, richly colored dessert wine, Marsala is an attractive destination for wine connoisseurs. Most travelers come to take a comprehensive tour of its superb wineries and sprawling vineyards. The well rounded, perfumed, and delicately nutty Marsala you find in this part of the island is a fortified wine, similar to Vermouth, Sherry, and Madeira, bearing little if any resemblance to the inexpensive item labeled Marsala that you pick up off the shelf of your local grocery store and use for cooking.

Seaside relaxation

North-west Sicily’s shoreline offers many great seascapes as well. When the temperatures soar, then, head to one of the nearby fine white-sand beaches.

Historical monuments and natural beauties

There are also many other historical and natural sites of interest within easy reach of the town, including the Stagnone Nature Reserve, where sports lovers can take delight in pursuits such as kitesurfing, paragliding, and water skiing, and the photogenic saltpans dotted with red-roofed windmills used to pump seawater. It’ll be hard to hold back your “wows” while watching the beauty of the flat, shallow lagoon, especially at sunset, when the Sicilian sunshine casts the chessboard of saltpans with a peachy glow.

Also, make the time to take a boat trip to the Phoenician island colony of Mothia, also known as Saint Pantaleo, and the Egadi Islands, a peaceful archipelago blessed with water of extraordinary clarity – it’s hard to tell where the sky ends and the opal-colored sea begins. The largest of the Egadi Islands is Favignana, a closely guarded secret with limestone cliffs, crystalline waters, and a totally laid-back vibe. The pristine island of Levanzo is rife with beautiful landscapes, and something we’ve all been yearning for: silence and no paved roads. The furthest from Sicily is Marettimo, a small, mountainous islet very much off the beaten track.

And that’s not all. A short drive northeast of Marsala is the ancient walled citadel of Erice, where some of The Godfather trilogy’s most famous scenes were filmed. Must-stops are also the lively port city of Trapani, and the Greek site of Segesta, where a remarkably well-preserved Doric temple dating from around 430 BC rises out of the rugged landscape.

Luxury accommodation

Explore the bijou town of Marsala by basing yourself in a private villa with all the first-class facilities of a multi-million dollar home. A luxury villa provides the perfect base from which to explore Sicily’s bewitching western coast, offering more space, privacy, and freedom than a traditional hotel. This is especially important now, in a post-Covid-19 world.

Luxury villas typically come with a private swimming pool, free Wi-Fi, a barbecue pit for BBQ parties, and sometimes direct beach access. Options vary from architect-designed contemporary homes and family-friendly villas to secluded countryside retreats and even renovated baglios, available to rent right now through Selectsicilyvillas.com, an upscale vacation-rental company that boasts an impressive collection of exquisite properties all over the island. Each home has its own character, décor, and amenities.

Perfectly placed for exploring Sicily’s windswept western coast, Seven Islands, pictured above, is a show-stealing, ultra-luxe villa that can house up to eleven guests. Set in an enviable position just a few miles away from Marsala, this contemporary architectural masterpiece boasts to-die-for views of the abovementioned Egadi Islands. Its covered, heated pool is one of the finest you’ll find anywhere.

An ideal luxury retreat for those looking for a relaxing holiday, Mozia View is an immaculate, modernist villa offering pretty much everything one could wish for in a summer house: lots of light, designer furnishings, and a wonderful 30-foot swimming pool with captivating views across beautiful rows of vineyards down to the crystal clear sapphire sea… all just five minutes from the Baroque jewel of Marsala.

Looking out over orange, olive and almond groves down to the sea from its slightly elevated position, Ferla Verde is a discreet, reflective ode to the timeless beauty that surrounds it. The views from the sea-facing terraces, and stunning heated pool complete with jacuzzi and counter current jets for lap swimming are at once calming and inspiring. Some 5 miles north-east of Marsala, this ultra-boutique property with five well-appointed bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms can accommodate up to eleven guests.

Luxury accommodation perfect for large families can be found at The Palm Grove, one of the most requested rental properties in western Sicily. This comfortable, elegantly furnished vacation home includes two buildings: the Main House with five bedrooms, and a garden guest house with an additional double bedroom. With well-designed internal spaces, a cozy, wooden sauna, a billiard table, a telescope, a striking 50-foot-long swimming pool surrounded by lush palm trees, and even a music room complete with a cello, piano and other instruments, a stay in The Palm Grove ticks all the boxes.

For more details or to book a stay in the pretty seaside town of Marsala, Sicily, visit selectsicilyvillas.com.