Trapani

Trapani (anc. Drepanum), a seaport of Sicily, and capital of a province in the north-west of the island, stands on a tongue of land 40 miles W. of Palermo, but fully thrice (141 m.) that distance by rail. It has a trade in wheat, wine, olives, sumach, salt, tunny fishes, sponges, and coral. Since 1860 it has been transformed: most of its fortifications have been removed to make room for promenades, gardens, new streets, and monuments; a suburb 2 miles long has been built; and the place is now noticeably clean, and plentifully supplied (since 1891) with good water brought 60 miles. Pop. 32,020. The ancient Drepanum was probably founded by the Carthaginians; and here they utterly defeated the Romans in a celebrated naval engagement in 249 B.C.