The museum is set up in the villa of Joseph Whitaker, an Englishman who made his fortune from Marsala wines. The objects were discovered on the island, at Lilibeo (now Marsala) and in the necropolis of Birgi, on the coast. Phoenecian and Punic ceramics and Greek and Italian vases form the bulk of the collections. The main piece is among the sculptures, the sphinx of Mozia, a noble and strongly attractive figure in long finely folded robes.