Mozia International Award

An award in the heart of Phoenician Sicily

The Mozia International Award is a cultural recognition held every June on the Island of Mozia, an ancient Phoenician-Punic settlement nestled in the Stagnone Lagoon, just a few kilometres from the city of Marsala in the province of Trapani. The setting is one of the most evocative in Western Sicily: salt pans, windmills, flamingos, and the archaeological remains of one of the most important Phoenician colonies in the Mediterranean, preserved by the Whitaker Museum.

Celebrating excellence

Each edition honours eleven individuals who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields. Categories range from journalism and diplomacy to science, sustainability, institutional communication, cinema, and theatre. Awardees receive a statuette replicating the famous Youth of Mozia, a sculptural masterpiece and symbol of the island, along with the title of 'Ambassadors of Mozia, the Salt Pans, and the Stagnone Lagoon' to the world.

The UNESCO goal

Beyond celebrating talent, the Award was created with a specific purpose: to support and accelerate the path toward the recognition of the island of Mozia and the Stagnone Lagoon as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The candidacy of the Phoenician-Punic civilization is already on the organization's Tentative List, and each edition of the Award reaffirms the universal value of this territory.

Who organizes the Award

The event is promoted through a synergy between the Marsala Wine Route Association, the oldest Sicilian periodical Il Vomere—led by the award's founder Rosa Rubino—and the Giuseppe Whitaker Foundation, which owns the island. The Scientific Committee is chaired by Gianni Letta and brings together over thirty prominent figures from the worlds of culture, institutions, and media. The ceremony is broadcast on Rai 3 and available on RaiPlay, with media partnership from TGR.

An event for Marsala and Western Sicily

The Mozia International Award has become a highly anticipated date on the cultural calendar of the Municipality of Marsala and the entire province of Trapani, capable of attracting high-profile institutional guests and turning the national spotlight on one of the most fascinating places in the Mediterranean.