< 1 day
On foot
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History
Mazara was founded by the Phoenicians in the 9th century BC with the name of Mazar who made it an important mercantile emporium.
It then passed under the control of Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Ostrogoths, and Byzantines, before being occupied by the Arabs in the year 827 AD.
In 1072, Mazara was conquered by Normans, headed by Roger I. During that period, in 1093, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mazara del Vallo was instituted.
After the death of Emperor Frederick II, Sicily passed to the Angevins, then followed by the Catalans of the Aragon Crown. The Aragon period (1282–1409) is characterized by a political, economic, and demographic decline of Mazara. The city passed under the control of the House of Savoy in 1713, a reign that lasted only five years, being replaced by the Habsburg Empire (for 16 years) followed by the Bourbons. In 1860 the city was finally conquered by Giuseppe Garibaldi and the Mille, thus joining the then-newly formed Kingdom of Italy.
Today, it is an agricultural and fishing center and its port gives shelter to the largest fishing fleet in Italy. Recently it has been a hotspot for migrants from North Africa.
Photo of the Cattedrale del Santissimo Salvatore, by Mina FC on Unsplash
Attractions
Mazara del Vallo has different places that are worth visiting.
Kasbah
Mazara has plenty of places and spots that deserve to be seen and visited. The main center of the city is called Kasbah, a labyrinth of small streets, built by Arabs.
Recognizable for its narrow streets embellished with colorful ceramics and for the murals, the neighborhood smells the scent of spices that come from the kitchens of its houses and the colors of the buildings help define its identity.
Among the most famous alleys, we find Vicolo del Vento, defined as the street where the wind blows constantly, and Vicolo Giattino recognizable thanks to its vases.
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Photo of the Kasbah district, by Davide Mauro on Wikipedia
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The beauty of Arab art is concentrated in its door, the symbol par excellence of the Kasbah: the Porta Azzurra.
Photo of the Porta Azzurra, by Davide Mauro on Wikipedia
Piazza della Repubblica
Near the district, there is Piazza della Repubblica, the most important square in the city of Mazara del Vallo, as it contains some of the most interesting points of the city: the cathedral basilica, the bishop's palace, the seminary palace, and the diocesan museum.
Photo of the Piazza della Repubblica, by Lorenzo Cassirà on Wikipedia
Museo del Satiro Danzante
In July 1997, the fishing boat "Capitan Ciccio", belonging to the maritime fleet of Mazara del Vallo and commanded by captain Francesco Adragna, perhaps accidentally, retrieved a leg of a bronze sculpture from the depths of the Sicilian Channel. A year later, following further research, the entire sculpture was found: the Satiro Danzante.
Today the work is exhibited in the Museo del Satiro Danzante, together with other archaeological remains returned from the sea, such as pottery and statuary pieces in bronze.
Photo of the Satiro Danzante, by Xp8888 on Wikipedia
Teatro Garibaldi
A place of culture very representative of local history is undoubtedly the Teatro Garibaldi.
Following the revolutionary uprisings of 1848 and the consequent passage of power from the Bourbons to a city committee, it was decided to acquire a room with a lease and to appoint a commission that would equip the city with a new theatrical structure.
Without decorations on the outside, it is rich in pictorial elements typical of Sicilian folklore, comparable to the painting that adorns the Sicilian carts.
The importance of Teatro Garibaldi is of historical significance: strongly desired by the citizens, the construction of the same defines a fundamental break point, allowing all classes to enjoy the performances.
Photo of the Teatro Garibaldi, by Tomasz Anusiewicz on Unsplash
Collegio dei Gesuiti
Another place steeped in history is the Collegio dei Gesuiti: it is an important building complex located in Piazza Plebiscito in the historic center of the city of Mazara del Vallo.
Photo of the Collegio dei Gesuiti, by Leopictures on Pixabay
Food
Mazara is a destination for tourists, but also for culinary, interest. Being a famous fishing center, the delicacies of its cuisine come from fish and its famous crustaceans.
Gambero Rosso di Mazara
The most famous delicacy of the city of Mazara is undoubtedly the red prawn. It is a particularly valuable species in the kitchen, divided into sizes, the first of which has exceeded one hundred euros/kg for some years.
The places to eat in Mazara, listed below, all serve the tasty crustacean. It is also recommended to follow the link to the official website of Rosso di Mazara to find out more and purchase it even remotely.
Photo of the Rosso di Mazara, by Alexandra Slo on Unsplash
Here is a list of places to eat in Mazara:
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Ammàri - Racconti e cucina di mare is a nice new restaurant that deserves to be mentioned. It is famous for the reinterpretation of traditional raw materials in forms usually found in the processing of sausages. Their main dish is fish sandwiches and mixed fried fish accompanied by different sauces. Of course, you can also choose crudité, pasta with fish, and so on;
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Ristorante Donna Franca is a restaurant where you can have traditional fish food and pasta;
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Cafe Funduq is another place where you can have restaurant food made with local fish;
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Il Pesciolino d’Oro is the restaurant you want to go to if you want to enjoy a sea view while having seafood. A good choice would be the cous cous, traditionally from Trapani.
Tips
Parking
The seafront is the best place to park your car in Mazara del Vallo. Alternatively, you can go to the harbor if you cannot find parking.
Riserva Naturale di Capo Feto
If you are interested in marine areas, however, in the southernmost part of the province of Trapani, west of Mazara del Vallo, there is one of the last surviving wet coastal areas in Sicily, a place listed among those of European Community importance that deserves special protection. The Riserva Naturale di Capo Feto consists of about 453 hectares of sand dunes and small stretches of water. Separated from the sea by a sandy strip, it is almost completely submerged by the sea in winter and drier in the summer. Capo Feto is an area particularly rich in the remains of Poseidonia, a Mediterranean plant that has evolved from the terrestrial to the marine environment, which, due to a strange play of currents, settles along the coast.
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Photo of the Riserva Naturale di Capo Feto, by Mαρκος on Wikipedia
If you are an athlete or you’re just interested in sports, Capo Feto has been kitesurfing for some years and, thanks also to a school, Mazara has now become a famous center for kitesurfing.
Photo of a kitesurfer, by Harold Granados on Pexels
Between the port of Mazara del Vallo and the Capo Feto reserve, there is a Fata Morgana promenade that runs along a long beach of fine gray-white sand of about 4 kilometers with several equipped beaches.