Parco Archeologico di Lilibeo-Baglio Anselmi

At Capo Boeo, the archaeological park of Lilibeo preserves remains of ancient Lilybaeum beneath the modern city of Marsala. The adjacent Baglio Anselmi museum displays the Punic ship recovered from the Stagnone lagoon alongside finds from the ancient settlement and its waters.

Why it matters

Lilybaeum was a major Carthaginian stronghold in western Sicily and later an important Roman city. The park preserves traces of its streets, insulae, baths and fortifications. The museum brings together artefacts from the settlement and its maritime history, including the remains of a Punic warship.

What to notice

In the underwater collections, the Punic ship's surviving hull preserves Phoenician-Punic letters and assembly marks on its planks. The collection also includes amphorae, anchors and material from other wrecks, as well as the late-Roman Marausa ship. Outside, sections of the ancient city are visible along the Roman road known as Plateia Aelia, including domestic blocks, baths and fortification remains.

Context and history

Rome captured Lilybaeum in 241 BC after a lengthy siege during the First Punic War. Under Roman rule, the city remained a naval base and later became a municipium and then a colony. Cicero served as quaestor here in 76–75 BC and described it as a splendidissima civitas. The Baglio Anselmi, formerly used for Marsala wine production, was converted into a museum in 1986.