Mazara Del Vallo
Duration 5 hours approxStarting From 230 € per person
Discover the beauty of Mazara Del Vallo.
Mazara del Vallo, located in the province of Trapani, stands on an ancient Phoenician site along the western coast of Sicily, between Cape Boeo and Cape San Marco, on the left bank of the Màzaro River’s mouth, and about 200 km from the coast of Tunisia.
The name Mazara, meaning “Castle” in Arabic and “Port” in Italian, has existed since pre-Hellenic times. Its Arab influence is evident in the maze of narrow streets reminiscent of Islamic medinas. The heart of the city is its bustling port, always busy with people engaged in fish trading. Nearby is the Norman church of San Nicolò Regale, built in 1124.
Places of Interest:
• Jesuit College: In the city center, Piazza Plebiscito is bordered by the facade of the Church of San Ignazio and the adjacent former Jesuit College (17th century), featuring 24 Doric columns and impressive arches.
• Piazza della Repubblica: The main city square, overlooking the Basilica-Cathedral (Norman era but rebuilt in Baroque style), the 16th-century Bishop’s Palace, and the 1710 Bishop’s Seminary Palace. The Cathedral houses numerous Roman sarcophagi.
• Church of San Michele: A 12th-century church, along with the Church of Santa Caterina from 1318, remodeled in the Baroque era, and the Church of San Francesco, a prime example of Sicilian Baroque with rich polychromy and decorations.
• Piazza Mokarta: Ideal for those seeking shops and restaurants, offering a beautiful view.
Mazara del Vallo, with about 51,424 inhabitants, once enclosed within Norman walls, is now Italy’s most important fishing port and the second in Europe, thanks in part to Maghreb labor.
In March 1998, Mazara del Vallo gained prominence when a local fishing boat recovered a bronze sculpture, over 2 meters tall, from about 480 meters depth in the Sicily Channel. Known as the Dancing Satyr, it dates back to the Hellenistic period. After restoration and a brief display in Rome, the statue was shown at Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan. It is now exhibited in the Mazara del Vallo museum in Piazza Plebiscito.
In June 2010, the city was recognized as a municipality with a predominantly tourist economy and a city of art, and in August 2010, it was designated as a tourist-oriented municipality. Mazara del Vallo is also an important center for Islamic studies in literature, poetry, law, and religion. The layout of the historic center, the Casbah, still reflects its Arab heritage.
Excursion Details:
- Duration: About 5 hours.
- Price: Includes up to 3 participants. Additional participants, see booking form prices.
- Notes: Meals, entrance tickets, and guides are not included.
- Booking: Book directly using the form by selecting date, time, and participants.
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