Tonnara of Portopalo

The Tonnara di Capo Pass ero In Portopalo di Capo Passero is located the southernmost Sicilian Tonnara on the island.
Owned by the heirs of Cavaliere Pietro Bruno di Belmonte, it represents a fine example of industrial archaeology that enjoys an extraordinary position overlooking the sea.
It consists of the lodge and tuna processing plant, the large furnace, the barrel or salt warehouses, and the knight’s residence with a 17th-century church attached.
Also part of the tuna fishery are the warehouses located on the island of Capo Passero, which were used for winter storage of anchor nets and large boats This fascinating monument of industrial archaeology testifies to the flourishing tuna fishing and processing activity in Sicily.
Once the beating heart of the local economy, the tonnara now reveals to visitors the secrets of a bygone era, telling stories of hard work, ingenuity and tradition.
Its origins date back to medieval times, when the right to fish was granted as a feudal barony.
Over the centuries, the tuna fishery has undergone several stages of development and modernization, passing under the rule of different noble families.
These include that of the Prince of Villadorata Corradino Nicolaci, who in 1774 invested in the modernization of the facility and new equipment.
That of Portopalo is the last and among the most important of the so-called “return” tuna fisheries placed all on the southeastern coast of Sicily, unlike the so-called “forward” tuna fisheries that are strategically located on the northern coast of the island.
Tuna fishing in Portopalo used to take place, in fact, seasonally, between June and August, when the large migratory fish came from the Atlantic Ocean in the spring period to spawn in the Mediterranean, then crossed the Strait of Sicily in the summer to return to the Atlantic.
The tuna trap’s large oak boats, about 20 meters long called scieri, would lead the tuna inside a circular net called the “death chamber.”
Here, the fishermen would begin the mattanza, a bloody but necessary operation to process the tuna.
Once brought to shore, the tuna were gutted, cleaned, and dissected.
The different parts of the fish were put to different uses: the fresh meat, some of which was consumed locally, while the remainder was salted, smoked or preserved in oil.
The tonnara also produced bottarga, a prized food made from the tuna’s eggs.
The Capo Passero tuna fishery ceased operations for good in 1969, marking the end of an era for local seafaring.
However, by visiting the Tonnara di Capo Passero, which today constitutes a site of industrial archeology of great historical and cultural value, it is possible to immerse oneself in the atmosphere of a bygone era and retrace the stages of tuna processing.
The Tonnara di Portopalo di Capo Passero, today a fascinating example of industrial archaeology, tells a thousand-year history of fishing, work and community life.
Once the beating heart of the local economy, the tonnara was the place where tuna, caught with wisdom and tradition, was processed and transformed into a valuable resource for the livelihood of entire generations. A Fascinating Industrial Complex:

• Loggia and Plant: The loggia, surrounded on three sides by the sea, was the centerpiece of the tuna fishery.
  The factory, with its furnace, warehouses and church, completed the industrial complex.
• Furnace and Warehouses: The furnace was used for cooking tuna, while the warehouses housed salting barrels and salt reserves.
• 17th-century church: The church, dedicated to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, was the place of prayer for tuna fishermen and their families.

The Frenetic Activity of the Tonnara:

• Arrival of the Tuna: In early spring, tuna arrived in large numbers, attracted by expertly placed nets.
• Mattanza and Processing: Mattanza, a bloody but necessary moment, marked the beginning of fish processing.
  Tuna were gutted, cleaned, boiled and finally preserved in oil.
• A Fundamental Economic Activity: Fishing and tuna processing was the lifeblood of the local economy.
  It provided employment for fishermen, artisans and merchants, ensuring the livelihood of many families.

The historical heritage of the Tonnara to be preserved and made available to the public Historical Testimony: The Tonnara of Portopalo di Capo Passero is a precious testimony to Sicilian history and its maritime traditions.