Mazara del Vallo (Trapani Provincia) is 52 km from Tapani, alt. 8 m, on the west coast of the island, at the mouth of the River Mazaro, area 275.4 sq km, pop. over 48,600, post-code 91026, tel. 0923. Economy: agriculture (grapes); industries (wine, furniture, fishing and derivatives). Mazara has always been a seaport of great importance and even today its fishing fleet is the biggest in Italy. It was initially a Phoenician port (6th, 5th,cent. BC) allied with Selinunte. When Selinunte was destroyed by the Carthaginians, Mazara was also seized. After the Second Punic War, it passed to the Romans. It went through a period of decline, but began to prosper again after 827, when the Arabs first set foot on the island at Mazara. The period of splendor continued throughout the Norman age, and Mazara was made the capital of the Val di Masara. Later the town delclined slowly.