In 1895 the town council of Marsala turned the moat of the sixteenth-century San Francesco bastion, by then almost entirely dismantled, into a public garden facing Piazza della Vittoria, next to Porta Nuova. This is Villa Cavallotti, whose very name carries the political history of the last century. It was first dedicated to Francesco Crispi, then to Felice Cavallotti — a Garibaldi volunteer, journalist, poet and founder of Italy's historic far left. Under Fascism the garden reverted to Crispi's name and Cavallotti's statue was taken down. Only in 1943, with the regime gone, did it become Villa Cavallotti again, and the statue returned to its place.
What to see
Designed by Giuseppe Grasso, the garden is laid out on two levels: the lower one fills the old city moat, the upper coincides with what remains of the San Francesco bastion. From the higher terrace the view reaches the Egadi Islands — Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo — and Capo Boeo. The plan follows the model of a nineteenth-century promenade garden: a regular perimeter and avenues of varying width opening onto small squares. A pond with fish sits at the entrance; a fountain stands on the upper level. Where a small stream once fell in a cascade, a stairway now climbs. Among the plantings are Ficus elastica, a large Ficus macrophylla, dwarf palms, rose beds and various exotic species. Busts of notable Marsala citizens line the avenues, among them Giuseppe Damiani, father of the patriot and Garibaldian Abele Damiani, alongside the statue of Felice Cavallotti himself.
Visiting
The villa works as a full public park: there is a children's playground, restrooms and a pub on site. For some years now the terrace on the San Francesco bastion has hosted food, wine and cultural events, such as “Calici sotto le stelle,” an evening of wine tastings and concerts; in December 2019 the garden became Santa Claus's village for the Christmas season.
Our editors' tip
Climb to the upper level built over the bastion: on clear days that is where the Egadi Islands line up along the horizon, while the lower level, sheltered in the old moat, is the better spot to pause in the shade of the ficus trees.
