Tonnara of Marzamemi

The Marzamemi tuna fishery was erected in the 17th century under Spanish rule. In 1655 it was acquired by the Calascibetta barons of Piazza Armerina, and in the second half of the 19th century the property passed to the Nicolaci family of Noto. During the 18th century the Prince’s Palace, the church dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the fishermen’s cottages were built. The tuna fishery establishment is characterized by three large entrances that allowed the sheltering of boats loaded with tuna inside the so-called loggia. In the early 1900s, a factory for processing tuna in oil was built on the north side, consisting of boilers and associated chimneys. The only remaining smokestack, which survived the bombings of World War II, can still be seen today. The tuna factory remained active until 1954.

Largo Balata – Loggia degli scieri

The Largo Balata takes its name from the stone slabs, called balate in Sicilian, with which the space in front of the tuna fishery, in front of the small harbor, is appropriately paved in order to both facilitate the hauling of boats and make it easier to land the tuna caught. The Loggia degli Scieri is a single large room used for the shelter of the tuna boats that were hauled directly out to sea from
here. The facade of the Loggia is characterized by the three large gates that allowed the entrance and exit of scieri and muciare; these typical boats represented the symbols of Marzamemi’s local economy and culture. In the early 1900s the tuna fishery complex was completed with the construction of the camperia; inside the Loggia the first phase of tuna processing was carried out: by means of winches, after being washed, they were hung by the tail from special beams called appindituri, where they remained at least twenty-four hours to bleed.

Palace of the Princes of Villadorata – Mid-18th century

The palace was built around 1750 on the initiative of Baron Bernardo Calascibetta and stands on the west side of Piazza Regina Margherita, opposite the old fishermen’s dwellings. The building is
presented with a simple facade and an arched entrance portal. On the lower floor are warehouses that were used to store goods and shelter equipment
functional to the tuna fishery. Through an open space, connected to the Loggia degli Scieri, access is possible to the upper floor, used as the owners’ residence. In the mid-19th century the building was acquired by the Nicolaci family of the Princes of Villadorata.

Visiting information:

Email: [email protected]
www.visitvaldinoto.com
www.prolocomarzamemi.it

Mobile phone: +39 3920912515
Landline phone: 0391313008

Other resources:

Tuna places
The Syracuse bluefin tuna road
The tuna trap of Vendicari
The tuna trap of Marzamemi