Marzamemi, the fishermen's village of Syracuse: what to see | Sicily

From the colorful Piazza Regina Margherita to the small ports of La Balata and La Fossa: what to see in Marzamemi, the fishing village of Syracuse.

Small and colorful seaside village in the province ofSyracuse, Marzamemi is one of the places in the heart ofSicily, one of the most renowned destinations on the whole island.

Set in the municipality of Pachino, which is in turn famous for a very sweet variety of cherry tomatoes, the village of Marzamemi stands out for its carefree and joyful summer atmosphere.

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HISTORY OF MARZAMEMI

Although there are different interpretations regarding the origin of the name, it is almost certain that "Marzamemi" is of Arabic derivation and, more precisely, that it is to be connected to "turtle dove bay” (marsà al-hamāma) or to Euphemius, commander of the Byzantine fleet who began the conquest of Sicily starting from these areas.

The birth of the colorful village of Marzamemi dates back to 1600 when, during the Spanish domination, the construction of thetonnarawhich soon became the hub of all economic and commercial activities in the area. During the 1700s the Villadorata palace and the church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin of Monte Carmelo were then erected, as well as the sailors' houses.

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Over the centuries Marzamemi specialized insalted tuna processingand in oil, becoming a point of reference also for the transport of local wine to other Italian ports. In 1993 the small village was chosen as the location for the filmSouthby Gabriele Salvadores and, since then, his fame has known no end.

WHAT TO SEE IN MARZAMEMI

The ancient fishing village of Marzamemi revolves around the picturesqueQueen Margaret Square which they overlookChurches of San Francesco di Paola(one of which is deconsecrated) and thePalace of Villadorata. It is within this clearing that the famous arrangement of brightly colored chairs and tables is found, which has become the undisputed symbol of Marzamemi.

Among the things to see in Marzamemi theTonnara, not far from the central square, and the marinasThe Balata and The Pit. In the body of water in front of the village, about a mile from the coast, theRoman columns of Marzamemi, white marble columns that date back to the 3rd century AD and which were probably contained in a Roman ship sunk among the rocks on the seabed. It is possible to reach it thanks to the underwater excursions organized in theMarine Protected Area of ​​Plemmiro.

WHAT TO SEE AROUND MARZAMEMI

Marzamemi rises in the municipality of Pachino, not far from the BaroqueKnown, a stone's throw from the Oriented Nature ReserveVendicari Wildlife Oasis, in a landscaped area of ​​striking beauty.

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Among the things to see in the surroundings of Marzamemi stand outKnown(23km away), theVendicari Reserve(13km away),Porto Palo of Capo Passaro(southern tip of Sicily – 9 km away), Syracuse withOrtygiaand the Greek Theater (53 km away) ePalazzolo Acreide(50km away).

HOW TO GET TO MARZAMEMI

The most practical and fastest way to reach Marzamemi, in the province of Syracuse, is by car. If you are organizing a holiday in these areas, the advice is to rent a car at the arrival airport, Catania,Palermoor Comiso, and move freely.

On the siteDiscoverCarsyou will have the possibility to choose among the best offers of the moment. All you need to do is enter the collection, delivery and rental duration data, and the system will provide you with the list of the cheapest prices on the market. Rates generally increase as the travel date approaches, so a good tip is to book in advance.

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The DiscoverCars service is multilingual, available 24 hours a day and with no hidden or additional costs. Furthermore, one of the main advantages is that you can cancel any reservation for free. To pick up the car at one of the airports in theSicilyyou will only need a driving licence, identity document, credit card and voucher issued at the time of booking. DiscoverCars offers include all surcharges, taxes and extras.

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