Scopello
A small seaside village beside the southern entrance of the Zingaro Reserve. An old tuna fishery and sea stacks standing offshore make up Sicily's most photogenic coastal scene.
Scopello is a small seaside village in the comune of Castellammare del Golfo. Its centre is built around an 18th-century courtyard farmhouse, and it has several bakeries and restaurants. It is famous for pane cunzato, a Sicilian stuffed bread roll. Below the village lies the Scopello Tonnara (tuna fishery), founded in the 13th century. Its pink stone buildings, watchtowers and several huge sea stacks (Faraglioni) offshore form a classic postcard view. The fishery is now privately owned, and in summer it charges an entrance fee of about €5 to €7, which includes use of the pier for swimming. Around the sea stacks, the underwater world of coral and fish makes it a good spot for snorkelling. The village is about 2 km from the southern entrance of the Zingaro Reserve, so the two can be visited in the same day. It is about 70 km from Palermo, roughly 1 hour by car, and parking is tight in summer.
Opening hours
Village open all day; fishery about 09:00–19:00 in summer (often closed in winter)
Nearby sights
- Zingaro Nature Reserve
- Segesta
- Monreale Cathedral
- Mondello Beach
- Capuchin Catacombs
- La Zisa
- Palazzo dei Normanni & Cappella Palatina
- San Giovanni degli Eremiti