An authentic fishing village with a historic tuna fishery and one of the most beautiful seas on Sicily's south-east coast.
Marzamemi grew as a fishing village around its tonnara (tuna fishery), one of the oldest and best preserved in Sicily, active until the 1960s; the name has Arabic origins. Today the main square, Piazza Regina Margherita, faces the old tonnara and the 18th-century Church of San Francesco di Paola, creating one of the most photographed views of the south-east coast.
The village can be visited in a few hours on foot: low pastel-coloured houses, fishing nets drying in the sun, shops selling local products (bottarga, capers, preserves) and seafood restaurants overlooking the small harbour. In the evening, when lights come on in the square, Marzamemi shows its livelier side without losing its village atmosphere.
The sea is the real strength of the area: shallow, crystal-clear water suitable for families, rocky coves a short distance towards the Vendicari Reserve and interesting seabeds for snorkelling. The Vendicari Nature Reserve, a few minutes by car, adds wild beaches, salt pans and an important wetland for birdwatching.
Marzamemi combines well with a day dedicated to the Val di Noto: it is close to both Noto and Syracuse, making it a natural stop for a sea-and-baroque itinerary starting from Comiso.
Marzamemi is about 1 hour from Comiso airport. The most convenient way is a rental car or a private transfer: the village has no fast direct links from the airport.
The best activities and excursions selected for this destination.