Villages of Italy: Mazara del Vallo

Overlooking the Mediterranean sea, just 200km from the Tunisian coast, Mazara del Vallo, in the province of Trapani, is one of the most interesting destinations in western Sicily.

Every corner of this enchanting city tells pieces of its history and its dominations, and its historic center, rich in monuments, enchanting courtyards and squares, is enclosed within Norman walls dating back to the 11th century.

Mazara del Vallo

Mazara del Vallo

Thanks to its strategic position, Mazara was one of the most important cities in Sicily throughout the Middle Ages and was largely influenced by the many invaders that arrived here. 

Despite the transformation work carried out by the Normans, the city retains many distinctive characteristics of the Arab-Berber culture: the most evident sign is the winding road layout, which starts from a central axis and leads to numerous colourful courtyards.

The district of San Francesco, is probably the most peculiar part presenting the singular features of the quarters with an Arab urban configuration, a small labyrinth of narrow streets, typical of the medina quarters. For this reason it is called Kasbah. Here, the walls are enlivened by the bright colors of the ceramics and majolicas and the street art creates a vibrant atmosphere. 

Mazara del Vallo

Mazara del Vallo

Mazara del Vallo, street art

Mazara del Vallo, street art

Mazara del Vallo

One of the symbols of the city, located in Piazza Mokarta, is the Norman Arch, once the entrance door to the castle built by Ruggero d’Altavilla to celebrate the victory against the Saracens. Unfortunately, the castle was demolished at the end of the 19th century to create a large public garden, called Villa Jolanda. 

Among the civil architectures, one of the most interesting is the beautiful Bishop's Palace, built between the 16th and 18th centuries with neoclassical influences and a beautiful Doric style portal.

Opposite the Bishop's Palace is the majestic Seminary Palace. Its structure is quite unique, compared to the surrounding buildings: it has an arcade with eleven round arches supported by square-based pillars, with an upper loggia supported by rectangular pillars. 

On the same square, the Cathedral of the Holy Savior was built around the year 1000, but it owes its current appearance to the renovations that took place in the Renaissance period.

Among the other religious buildings, it is worth a visit the beautiful Church of San Francesco, built in the 11th century by the will of Ruggero d’Altavilla. Born with a Norman Arab style, it later took on Baroque features, and owes its fame to the beauty of the frescoes present in it, as well as numerous bas-relief elements of its naves, which make it perhaps the most beautiful church in Mazara.

Mazara del Vallo

Mazara del Vallo

Mazara del Vallo

Mazara del Vallo

Mazara del Vallo

Do not forget that Mazara houses the statue of the Dancing Satyr dating back to the 4th century BC, and found only in 1998 by a fishing boat.

Outside the inhabited center is perhaps the greatest historical testimony of Mazara del Vallo, the Aeneolithic settlement of Roccazzo, an area of ​​about 20 hectares known for the numerous finds made inside, mainly dating back to the Bronze Age.