Editing Trapani (section)

==History==
{{main|Drepana|Timeline of Trapani}}

=== Origin of the name ===
The city was originally named ''Drépanon'' from the [[Greek language|Greek]] word for "[[sickle]]", because of the curving shape of its harbour.

Two ancient legends relate supposed mythical origins for the city and its name. In the first legend, Trapani stemmed from the sickle which fell from the hands of the goddess [[Demeter]] while she was seeking for her daughter [[Persephone]], who had been kidnapped by [[Hades]]. The second myth features [[Kronos (mythology)|Kronos]], who eviscerated his father [[Ouranos (mythology)|Ouranos]], god of the sky, with a sickle which, falling into the sea, created the city. In ancient times, Saturn (i.e., the [[Canaanite religion|Punic god]] [[Baal Hammon]]) was the patron god of Trapani. Today, Saturn's statue stands in a piazza in the centre of the city.

In [[Virgil]]'s ''[[Aeneid]]'', [[Anchises]], father of [[Aeneas]], died in Drepanum, and after fleeing from [[Dido]], the Trojan hero returned there to hold funeral games in his honor, known as the ''ludi novendiales''.

=== Foundation ===
[[File:Mura di Tramontana - centro storico.jpg|thumb|Sight from the old wall of Tramontana]]
The founders of the earliest settlement of [[Drepana]] were likely the Elymians, a people who inhabited western Sicily during the protohistoric era, with Eryx (modern-day Erice), one of their main centers, overlooking it from [[Monte Erice]]. The foundation of Trapani almost certainly predates the [[fall of Troy]] ([[1180s BC|1184 BC]]). The original village of Trapani probably arose on an island separated from the marshy mainland by a navigable channel, serving as the commercial port for Erice. Due to its favorable geographical location, Trapani quickly developed into a thriving emporium-city.

=== Carthaginian Influence ===
[[File:Trapani1.JPG|thumb|Torre Peliade (Colombaia)]]
Between the [[9th century BC|9th]] and [[8th century BC|8th]] centuries BC, Trapani came under [[Punic people|Punic]] influence. Throughout the subsequent wars against the Greeks and [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]], Trapani fortified itself and remained a steadfast ally of [[Ancient Carthage|Carthage]]. In [[260 BC]], [[Hamilcar Barca|Hamilcar]] arrived in Sicily, reinforced the city's defensive walls, and constructed the ''[[Castello di Terra]]'', the ''[[Torre Pali]]'', and the ''[[Torre Peliade]]'' (also known as ''Colombaia''). He also relocated part of Erice's population to Trapani. The Carthaginian general [[Adherbal (admiral)|Adherbal]], who had established his military headquarters in the city, defeated the [[Roman people|Romans]] in the [[Battle of Drepana]]. Together with [[Lilybaeum]] (modern-day Marsala), Drepana was among the last Carthaginian strongholds in Sicily.

=== From Roman Times to Spanish Domination ===
Trapani's strategic location played a significant role during the [[First Punic War]], notably in 249 BC, when the Carthaginians defeated the Roman fleet in the Battle of Drepana. However, a few years later, in [[241 BC]], the Romans under [[Gaius Lutatius Catulus (consul 242 BC)|Gaius Lutatius Catulus]] decisively defeated the Carthaginian fleet at the [[Battle of the Aegates]], marking the end of the war. Rome subsequently captured the city, Latinizing its name to ''Drepanum''.

The Romans treated Sicilian cities according to their behavior during the Punic Wars. Drepanum was categorized among the 26 "censorial cities" (''civitates censoriae''), known for their steadfast resistance against Roman forces. Consequently, Rome penalized the city for its loyalty to Carthage, leading Trapani into a period of decline and depopulation.

After Roman rule, the [[Vandals]] and later the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantines]] dominated the city. However, significant growth occurred in the [[9th century]] under [[Muslim Sicily|Arab rule]] (from 827), who called the city ''Itràbinis'', ''Taràbanis'', or ''Tràpanesch'', and subsequently under the [[Normans]], who captured Trapani in [[1077]] under [[Roger I of Sicily|Roger I]]. In these periods, Trapani flourished commercially and culturally, becoming an essential harbor during the [[Crusades]]. Throughout the [[Middle Ages]], Trapani's port was among the most prominent in the Mediterranean; all major [[maritime republics]] ([[Republic of Genoa|Genoa]], [[Republic of Pisa|Pisa]], [[Republic of Venice|Venice]], [[Republic of Amalfi|Amalfi]]) maintained [[Consulate|consulates]] there. The city notably served as a strategic stopover, especially for Genoa and Pisa, en route to their [[North Africa|North African]] territories.

In [[1266]], during the [[War of Saint Sabas]], Venetian and Genoese fleets clashed in front of Trapani's harbor, with the Venetians capturing the entire Genoese fleet.
[[File:Arrivo aragonesi.jpg|thumb|[[Peter III of Aragon|Peter III Aragon]], in Trapani (Sicily) during the "''Vespri siciliani''" (1282) (Biblioteca Vaticana)]]
In [[1282]], after a brief period under [[Angevin invasion of Sicily|Angevin]] control, Trapani played an active role in the [[Sicilian Vespers]] rebellion led by [[Palmiero Abate]], subsequently coming under [[Crown of Aragon|Aragonese]] rule. Throughout the [[14th century|14th]] and [[15th century|15th]] centuries, Trapani expanded, becoming the economic and political center of Western Sicily. In [[1478]], King [[Ferdinand II of Aragon]] honored Trapani with the title ''Invittissima'' ("Most Invincible"), acknowledging its steadfast resistance to the kingdom's enemies.

In [[1516]], Trapani was among the Sicilian cities that rebelled against [[Hugo de Moncada]]. The revolt was led by [[Don Simone Sanclemente]], who briefly established himself as ''Capitano di giustizia'' (Chief Justice), effectively becoming the city's ruler for several months.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Monroy |first=Giuseppe |title=Storia di un borgo feudale del Seicento: Paceco |publisher=Officina Tipografica Editoriale Radio |year=1929 |location=Trapani |pages=43-44 |language=Italian}}</ref>
[[File:Palazzo Senatorio Trapani Sicilia.jpg|thumb|Palazzo Cavarretta or ''Senatorio'', seat of the [[Senate of Trapani|historical city senate]], and of the actual municipal council.]]
On August 20, [[1535]], Emperor [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] arrived in Trapani after [[Conquest of Tunis (1535)|conquering Tunis]]. Recognizing the city's strategic importance, Charles V described Trapani as the "Key to the Kingdom" and swore to uphold its privileges, including the authority granted to the [[Senate of Trapani]] to confer university degrees in medicine, physics, theology, mathematics, fine arts, and law. In [[1589]], Trapani was formally elevated from ''Terra'' (land) to ''Civitas'' (city).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Accardi |first=Salvatore |url=http://www.trapaniinvittissima.it/files/1589_trapani_diventa_citta.pdf |title=Letter from Ximenes Durria |language=Italian}}</ref>

The [[17th century]] was marked by decline, driven by famine-induced uprisings in [[1647]] and [[1670]]–[[1673]], and a severe plague outbreak in [[1624]]. However, in the [[18th century]], the city's population significantly increased, growing from approximately 16,000 to 25,000 inhabitants.

=== From Bourbon Rule to Fascism ===
Following brief periods under the [[House of Savoy]] ([[1713]]) and [[House of Habsburg|Habsburg]] rule ([[1720]]), Trapani fell under [[House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies|Bourbon]] dominion starting in the second half of the 18th century, lasting until [[1860]].

In [[1756]], Trapani's stonemasons were commissioned to craft the grand staircase (''scala regia'') of the [[Royal Palace of Caserta]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buscaino |first=Antonio |title=Lumachella di Trapani |url=http://www.processionemisteritp.it/buscaino/lumachella%20di%20trapani.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825194907/http://www.processionemisteritp.it/buscaino/lumachella%20di%20trapani.htm |archive-date=August 25, 2011 |access-date=April 24, 2025 |website=processionemisteritp.it}}</ref> During Bourbon rule, several marshlands around Trapani were reclaimed, promoting urban development. Residents actively engaged in the commerce of salt and [[tuna]] fishing (''tonnare''). Trapani participated energetically in the [[Sicilian revolution of 1848|Sicilian revolts]] of [[1848]]–[[1849]], which were violently suppressed. In [[1861]], Trapani voted in favor of joining the newly established [[Kingdom of Italy]].

After [[World War I]], during which approximately 700 inhabitants of Trapani lost their lives, the city experienced a period of significant growth. Industries related to salt extraction, tuna fishing, [[wine]], and [[olive oil]] production made Trapani a dynamic city, economically and culturally. In [[1924]], following a visit, [[Benito Mussolini]] appointed [[Cesare Mori]] as prefect of Trapani. After a little more than a year, Mori was transferred to [[Palermo]] and granted extraordinary powers to suppress [[Sicilian Mafia|Mafia]] activity.

During [[World War II]], Trapani became strategically important as a harbor and submarine base. Its airfields at Milo and Chinisia served as critical logistical hubs for [[Axis powers|Axis troops]] in North Africa. The city endured extensive bombardments, beginning with [[France|French]] attacks on June 22, [[1940]], followed by [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] raids on November 10, [[1941]], and May 31, [[1942]], as well as 27 subsequent [[United Kingdom|Anglo]]-[[United States|American]] bombings from January to July [[1943]]. These air raids severely damaged Trapani, destroying its historic San Pietro neighborhood entirely and placing the city ninth among Italy’s most heavily bombed provincial capitals. On July 22, [[1943]], [[George S. Patton|General Patton]]'s Allied forces entered Trapani, encountering a severely devastated city.

=== Contemporary Era ===
In the [[1946 Italian institutional referendum|1946 referendum]], the Province of Trapani was the only one in Sicily to vote predominantly in favor of the [[Republic of Italy|Republic]], although the city itself expressed a [[Monarchism|monarchist]] preference. Between [[1950]] and [[1965]], Trapani gradually revived its industrial and commercial activities, yet it never fully recovered from the post-war crisis, retreating instead into a service-oriented economy and administrative functions associated with its provincial capital status. [[1968 Belice earthquake|The Belice Valley earthquake]] in January [[1968]] caused death and destruction in Trapani as well. The city also suffered fatalities in the floods of 1965 and November 5, 1976, the latter resulting in 16 deaths.

Starting in the [[1990s]], Trapani proactively promoted itself as a tourist, historical, cultural, and sporting destination. This transformation involved restoring the historic city center, developing new urban infrastructure, expanding hospitality and entertainment sectors, and emphasizing its significant historic, architectural, and natural heritage.

In recent years, Trapani has gained international prominence by hosting major cultural exhibitions featuring artists such as [[Caravaggio]], [[Leonardo da Vinci]], and [[Michelangelo]] (the [[Crucifix (Michelangelo)|rediscovered Crucifix]]), and notable sporting events, including stages of the prestigious [[Louis Vuitton Cup]].[[File:Museo pepoli.jpg|thumb|left|Cloister of the [[Museo regionale Agostino Pepoli|''Museum Pepoli'']].]]