Mazara del Vallo

Mazàra del Vallo is a Italian city of the Province of Trapani in Sicily.

The old historical center, enceint at the origin by the walls Normans, is composed of many churches, some dating from the 11th century as well as district of an Arab, typical plan of the " médinas" , called “Kasbah”, and characterized by a whole of small narrow and sinuous streets.

Geography

Mazara del Vallo is located in edge of the Mediterranean, with the mouth of the river Màzaro, with less 200km of the Tunisian coasts and North of Africa.

History

Because of its strategic position, Mazara del Vallo knew during the centuries a whole series of dominations: Phéniciens, Greek, Carthaginian, Roman, Byzantine, Arabo - Berber, Norman, Souabe S, Angevin S, Aragon S and Bourbons.

The origin of the site, as several archaeological discoveries gone back to 12 prove it; 000 years front JC, could go back to the Paléolithique superior.

Phéniciens, populates tradesmen and sailors, make of Mazara an important commercial emporium at the 9th century, and baptize it Mazar , or the citadel (" rocca").

At the 7th century it enters the orbit of the Greek colony close Sélinonte, of which it becomes an important outpost. In 406 av JC it passes under the domination of Segeste, which with the assistance of the Carthaginians led by Hannibal, beat Sélinonte.

In 392 av JC Mazara passes under the domination of Syracuse, but in 378 av JC it is reconquered by the Carthaginians which hold it until in 210 av JC.

After the First Punic War, the territory of Mazara is managed by the Romans.

Before passing under the Byzantine domination in 535, Mazara knows also the occupation of the Vandales and the Goths.

In 827 the conquest of Sicily on behalf of the Arabo - Berbères starts with Capo Granitola on the territory of Mazara del Vallo. Thereafter, Sicily is divided in three districts: Valley di Mazara, more extended, Valley Demone and Val di Noto. Thanks to the introduction of new cultures brought by the Moslems, like the lemon trees, the orange trees and of novel methods of irrigation, agriculture starts again to develop. The port activity becomes again important for the commercial exchanges with the African and Spanish countries. With the government of Ibn Mankut, Mazara becomes an important center of Islamic studies for the teaching of the literature, poetry, the right and the religion. The highway network of the historical center, known like Kasbah , still visible today, recalls the Arab origins of the city.

With the domination of Norman (1072) ordered by Ruggero d' Altavilla, the diocese of Mazara is instituted. After the death of Federico II di Svevia (1250) Mazara passes to the hands angevines, follows with the Royaume of Aragon.

The age of Aragonese (1282 - 1409) was characterized by the political, economic and demographic decline of the territory of Mazara. Under the terms of the peace treaty of Utrecht, Sicily (and thus Mazara also) passed to the Maison of Savoy. The Piedmontese ones soulement kept the domination under the isle for five years.

In the year 1718, Spanish undertakes a military campaign to take again Sicily in Austria. After sixty years of Austrian domination, Charles of Bourbon joined together Sicily and the Kingdom of Naples in 1734. During the domination of the Bourbons, many residential installations are born along the royal trazzere , and on the edges of the river Mázaro, companies for the breeding of fish and the vine growing develop.

Economy

The economic activities of the city are primarily fishing, agriculture and the shipbuilding industry and food, in particular that of fish. It is a very important fishing port in Italy, with a fleet of 350 large fishing vessels (" grown motopescherecci of altura") and approximately 4 000 fishermen.

Demography

The population of Mazara is made up approximately of 3 000 immigrants, in source especially of the North of Africa, employed since more than 25 years in the piscicultural, agricultural and artisanal activities of the city.

Anecdotes

Mazara defrayed the chronicle when, in March 1997, a fisherman under the command of the captain Francesco Adragna, made go up since 480 meters of depth in water of the strait of Sicily a bronze sculpture of two meters known under the name of Satyre dancing ( Satiro danzante ).

The statue, after to be restored and exposed some time to Rome, to the Montecitorio, returned in Mazara before setting out again some time to be exposed with the Expo 2005 with Aichi, with the Japan, the house of Italy, of the March 25th 2005 with the September 25th 2005.

Since second half of the month of October 2005, the Satyre dancing is again exposed to Mazara with the regional museum of Sant' Egidio located place of Plebiscito.

Today, Mazara is the most important fishing port of all Italy, which employs North-African labor almost exclusively. In fact the fishing involves all the local economy. The wine production, of citrus fruits and the Olive S is of an equal iportance with tourism.

Personalities

Saint Saw, dead during the persecution of Dioclétien (N. 290)
(Sidi) Al Imam Al Mazari, theologist arabien (N. 1060)
Pietro Consagra, sculptor (1920 - 2005)
Denise Pipitone, child missing in 2004

Administration

Hamlets

Borgata Costiera, Mazara Due

Communes bordering

Campobello di Mazara, Castelvetrano, Marsala, Petrosino, Salemi

See too

List of the Italian cities of more than 25.000 inhabitants

External bonds

Official site of the municipal authorities of Mazara del Vallo

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