Marsala

Port in western Sicily, Italy, on the Mediterranean coast 30 km/19 mi south of Trapani; population (2001) 77,800. The nationalist leader Giuseppe Garibaldi landed here in 1860 at the start of his campaign to capture Sicily for Italy. The town produces the sweet wine of the same name; there is also trade in agricultural produce and olive oil.

Marsala has a baroque cathedral dedicated to St Thomas à Becket, with tapestries given by Philip II of Spain; and an ancient citadel.

Early history Originally a Carthaginian stronghold, founded in 397 BC, it resisted a long siege by Pyrrhus and the Romans, but eventually surrendered to Rome in 241 BC. It was an important port under the Romans, and later the Saracens as Marsah-el-Allah. It was taken by the Normans in the 11th century.

Marsala

Dry or sweet Sicilian dessert wine, with a dark amber colour and a caramel flavour. It is fortified with grape juice that has been cooked and reduced to one-third of its original volume.