What we found out

Project objectives Tweet

The monitored project primarily concerns the redevelopment of Fici's Palace, with a particular focus on enhancing the cultural heritage related to the world of wine. The planned interventions aim to create a museum setup dedicated to the winemaking tradition and to establish an exhibition tour that guides visitors through the discovery of this important historical and cultural legacy. The main objective of the project is to improve the conditions and standards for offering and experiencing cultural heritage in areas of attraction. This will be achieved through targeted interventions designed to enrich the visitor experience and make the discovery of local heritage more accessible and engaging. The initiative seeks to promote the history and culture of the territory, thereby contributing to tourism promotion and the region’s economic growth.
From a financial perspective, the project has a monitored funding of €300,000.00, while the payments currently monitored amount to €257,648.48, demonstrating significant progress in the planned activities.

Foreseen activities

The Comune di Marsala has been entrusted with a series of engaging and dynamic activities aimed at bringing the culture of wine to life. Among these, a key initiative is the promotion of the museum through festivals that celebrate the rich tradition of winemaking. These events will not only highlight Marsala wine but will also introduce visitors to a variety of high-quality wines, accompanied by tasting sessions and educational workshops on winemaking techniques.
Another fundamental aspect is the management of the museum's gift shop, offering carefully selected products that reflect the region’s winemaking excellence. Additionally, the creation of thematic hubs dedicated to contemporary wine tourism will provide visitors with an immersive and interactive experience, bridging the past with the present.
Last but certainly not least, the Comune di Marsala will ensure the ongoing maintenance of the site through active collaboration with institutions, preserving its charm and functionality for future generations. All these initiatives share a common purpose: to spread the passion for wine, reviving its history and making it an integral part of the cultural and touristic fabric of the region.

Project origin

The Wine House project enhances Palazzo Fici and Marsala wine, turning the 17th-century building into a cultural center with exhibitions, events, tours, and tastings.
Created to protect historical heritage and promote Marsala wine, the project started with a municipal resolution and was funded by the FESR Sicily 2014/2020 Operational Program, Action 6.7.1. Funding was granted through a public selection approved by Decree No. 3325/2017, later modified by Decree No. 5884/2017. The final list of approved projects was issued with Decree No. 2547/2020, with an update made by Decree No. 906/2021.
The Municipality of Marsala led the building’s restoration, with wineries and wine consortia contributing to wine-related activities. Restoration experts preserved the site, while cultural and tourism associations helped organize events in line with local traditions.

Beneficiaries

The civic monitoring service benefits the general citizenship of the territory involved. Our project specifically deals with monitoring for the culture of wine in Marsala, specifically the construction of a museum apparatus that tells the story of Marsala wine. The actual success of this project (which is planned to continue to expand) can greatly benefit the tourism of the city, so that citizens from all over the world can learn about a new and interesting story. However, it will certainly also benefit the citizens of Marsala, who in this way will be able to learn the stories and legends of their city and keep its memory alive. In general, I find that this type of project can be useful to everyone, both on a cultural level and in terms of awareness.

Context

The “Wine House” project is set in a context where the tradition of wine is very important, especially in Marsala, a city famous for its wine. Despite this strong tradition, the wine and culture sector needs new ideas to attract more tourists and strengthen the local economy. An important aspect is to enhance the historical and architectural heritage by creating projects that combine culture, tourism, and food. Palazzo Fici, in particular, represents a great opportunity to develop a center that attracts visitors interested in the history of wine and the culture of the city. The restoration and transformation of this building into a multifunctional space will help promote wine tourism and the local culture.

Progress

The development project for the “John Woodhouse” Museum in Marsala is underway, with the aim of transforming it into a reference point for wine culture and wine tourism. The Municipality of Marsala has signed an agreement with the Wine Road Association to update the museum’s content and enrich it with events, masterclasses, and educational activities. The exhibition path is expanding, and there is ongoing consideration to include historical materials, such as original posters from winemaking companies from the 1900s.
To better understand the project and all his positive and negative aspects, we conducted monitoring visits and interviews with institutional figures and also associations that worked and continue to work in this project in order to have the clearest possible overview that allowed us to discover more and more about Palazzo Fici and its museum every day.

Results

Our team has monitored the progress of the Wine Museum at Palazzo Fici, assessing the results achieved and identifying any critical issues. The museum is a valuable cultural initiative, both for promoting local wine traditions and for restoring a historically significant building.
From our monitoring visit and discussions with the architect who designed the museum, we found that, despite the overall positive outcome, several planned features were not completed due to a lack of European funding. This has affected the full implementation of some technological elements, such as interactive screens that still need calibration. However, the museum is already open to visitors and offers an immersive and well-curated experience.
One of the most significant aspects highlighted during our monitoring is the historical research conducted on Palazzo Fici, which has further enhanced the cultural value of the museum. The connection between the building’s history and the wine theme strengthens the project’s identity and increases its appeal to visitors and researchers.
In conclusion, although the project has not been fully completed, it has already proven its effectiveness in promoting the local wine heritage. With further investments and the completion of the planned installations, the museum could reach its full potential.

Risks

The Wine Museum of Marsala has great potential, but some risks could compromise its success. The lack of stable funding and a low number of visitors could make management difficult. Additionally, building maintenance and technological updates are essential to keep the museum attractive. Competition with other tourist attractions and possible changes in visitor interests present another challenge. To ensure the museum’s future, it will be crucial to diversify revenue sources, engage the local community, and collaborate with the wine and tourism sectors, offering an innovative and engaging experience.

Investigation method

How was the information collected?

• Web research
• Visit to the project's location, documented by pictures or videos
• Interview with people responsible for the project's planning
• Interview with other types of people
• Interview with people responsible for the project's implementation
• Interview with political leaders

-Dr. Sara Parrinello: archaeologist and president of the Nonovento association
- Dr. Francesco Marchese: councilor for education of the Municipality of Marsala
- Dr. Maria Donatella Ingardia: councilor of the Municipal Council of Marsala
- Dr. Pietro Cavasino: councilor of the Municipality of Marsala and BELC councilor
- Architect Maurizio Giammarinaro
- Dr. Salvatore Lombardo: president of the association "La Strada del Vino"

Main questions

1) Structurally, do you think Palazzo Fici can comfortably accommodate a museum? Or do you think it is necessary to make some changes? (To Architect Maurizio Giammarinaro and to Dr.Salvatore Lombardo)
2) What would you change or add to the Wine Museum to make it more attractive?(To Architect Maurizio Giammarinaro)

Main answers

1) The museum is a starting point, we had to adapt to the building by adapting it as much as possible to the museum layout. There are various ideas to expand the route and spread the knowledge of Marsala wine, including for example putting on display the original posters of the wine companies distributed in 1900. The route is continuously being expanded, as already said the museum is only the basis of the route that is being planned.

2) At the moment I would not change anything about the museum, because I believe that the most challenging part has already been completed. At the same time I would also add interactive activities, which due to the reduced funds at the moment cannot be realized. However, I would reduce the duration of the projections that present the history of the wine present at the entrance of the museum because I realize that they may not be engaging enough. I would also like the route to be able to involve the senses of the visitors, including for example the tasting of the wine which is not available at the moment.