Located inside the stretch of sea known as Stagnone, Mozia was founded by the Phoenicians around the last decades of the 8th century. BC, on the island later known as San Pantaleo.

It was one of the most flourishing Phoenician colonies of the West and became the center of the Mediterranean due to its favorable geographical position, an object of interest by the Greeks and Carthaginians fighting for the domination of Sicily. In 397 BC it was destroyed by Dionigi of Syracuse who conquered it forcing the inhabitants to flee and to fall back into the nearby Lylibeo, today’s Marsala. The merit of the rediscovery of the island’s heritage goes to Giuseppe Whitaker who in the nineteenth century started the first archaeological excavations.

The first stop in the archaeological area is the Casa dei Mosaici, a Greek house built on Phoenician foundations; continuing south-east you come across the “casermetta”, a military structure outside the walls.

Follow the remains of the South Gate, immediately after you can admire the kothon, a freshwater basin linked to the rituals that took place in the temple placed to the east. On the northern coast is the tofet, a sacred area dedicated to the god Baal Hammon and in the adjoining position is the area K, an ancient industrial district.

A little further on is the necropolis and nearby the Phoenician-Punic sanctuary of Cappiddazzu. Continuing north, you reach the North Gate which was the hinge between the internal road axis and the marine road.
On the island you can visit the Museum which preserves archaeological finds unearthed in Mothia, Birgi and Lilibeo and the white marble statue known as “Giovane di Mozia”.

Museum and archaeological area:

0923712598, Hours 1 / 11-31 / 03 every day 9-15; 1 / 04-31 / 10 every day 9.30-13.30 and 14.30–18.30

adults € 9
students and children € 5
groups € 6