Marsala Marsala, beginning the process of Italian unification. On 11 May 1943, in the lead-up to the World War II Allied invasion of Sicily, an Allied bombardment of the town permanently damaged its Baroque centre and claimed many victims: "Marsala Wiped Off the Map" titled the New York Times on 13 May 1943. The archaeological area of Marsala has been investigated both through excavations and topographic studies. Lilybaeum, the ancient town, took up a rectangular area on Capo Boeo, a low and rocky promontory sloping gently down towards the sea. The urban layout of the town can be dated back to
Italian cruiser Marsala Otranto Barrage—a patrol line of drifters intended to block Austro-Hungarian and German U-boats. "Marsala" was the only Italian cruiser with steam up in her boilers when word of the Austro-Hungarian attack reached Brindisi. The British cruisers and departed first, along with five Italian destroyers. "Marsala", the flotilla leader , and three destroyers followed thereafter. "Marsala" briefly engaged the fleeing Austro-Hungarians in the Battle of the Otranto Straits, before Acton broke off the pursuit and ordered a return to port. Following the end of the war in November 1918, the "Regia Marina" demobilized; severely reduced naval budgets—the result of a weakened