Mozia

Mozia, also known as Motya in English, is a small island off the western coast of Sicily near the town of Marsala in the province of Trapani. It is connected to the mainland by a short causeway and is the site of a prominent ancient settlement. The island preserves the remains of the Phoenician city Motya, a major trading center in the western Mediterranean established in the early first millennium BCE. Motya played a key role in Phoenician-Punic networks and remained inhabited into the Punic period before its decline in antiquity.

Archaeological investigations on Mozia have revealed substantial evidence of urban planning, fortifications, harbor facilities, and an extensive necropolis with numerous burials. Among the most famous discoveries are the Motya Chariots, two elaborately decorated and exceptionally well-preserved chariot remains recovered from a tomb, which have become emblematic of Phoenician art and technology. Other finds include inscriptions, pottery, and figurines that shed light on the cultural interactions between Phoenician settlers in Sicily, local populations, and Greek communities.

The island houses the Museo Whitaker (Museo di Mozia), which collects and displays a large portion of the site's artifacts and provides contextual information about the Phoenician-Punic settlement. Mozia and its museum are managed as a protected archaeological area and are open to visitors, with exhibitions and guided tours that highlight the harbor installations, defensive walls, and necropolis.