BASTIONI E BALUARDI

In the XVI century, during the stay of Carlo V in Marsala, in order to confront the danger of frequent invasions from the Turkish who sailed from Tunis, fortification works were carried out. Numerous watch towers rose along the coast while the city walls were reinforced with the construction of bastions and bulwarks. Of the four corner bastions: San Francesco, San Giacomo, Sant’Antonio and Bottino, only the first two remain, respectively near the present Town park and the castle. Of the three bulwarks which were situated near the Mazara, Nuova  di Mare gates, however, there remain only traces of the one named d Velasco, from the name of the governor Bernardino de Velasco who oversaw its realization.