What to see in Marzanemi, where the picturesque seaside village is located, itinerary of the main places of interest, including fishermen's houses, the tonnara church, San Lorenzo beach and Vendicari nature reserve.
Tourist information
A small fishing village in the province of Syracuse in Sicily, Marzamemi is washed by the Ionian sea.
The name derives from the Arabic Marsà al hamem, which means Baia delle Tortore, as this type of birds usually pass through the area during their migrations.
Since the times of the Arab domination, Marzamemi was equipped with a tonnara, which over time has become one of the most important in Sicily and around which the life of the village has always revolved.
In 1630 the Nicolaci family of Villadorata, after having acquired the right to drop the tonnara from a Spanish nobleman, improved the local buildings, entrusting the work to trusted carpenters from Avola and Syracuse, who later decided to establish the their residence in Marzameni.
In 1752 the palace, the tonnara church were built and the fishermen's houses renovated.
What see
The Tonnara Church, built in sandstone, as well as the other buildings in the village, overlooks Piazza Regina Margherita, dominated by the falling and silent residence of the Prince of Villadorata.
This cult building, damaged during the Second World War, is dedicated to the patron saint San Francesco di Paola, as well as the new church inaugurated in 1948, built with a contribution from the Prince of Villadorata, who gave the statues that were in the church ancient property.
The natural harbors of Marzamemi are the Balata and the Fossa.
At the small port of Balata are the Old Factory, where ice was produced, and an ancient house now in ruins, called Casa Cappuccio, with three of the four facades facing the sea.
San Lorenzo beach is very famous for its very fine sand, so clear that it seems white, while the sea water is clear and transparent.
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In its vicinity is Vendicari, a natural reserve where groups of pink flamingos are present, periodically parked during their migratory passages.
