Geographical position

Pachino is a town placed in the most southern part of Sicily. It  lies onhill  65 m high from the sea-level near “Portopalo” of “Capo Passero” (ionic coast).  Southeast it  confines with the territory of “ Rosolini” and southwest with “Ispica”.       Pachino has a modern plan with straight roads, leading to the centre were there is a big square and  900 century style palaces. It has a majestic view in fact one side looks at “Iblei” mountains and from other at the vast     harbour of the ionic and of mediterranean sea.

As for the meaning of Pachino there are several explanations: some  people think that the name Pachino is referred to its geographical position where there are draughts which make it a windy place; it may also be referred to the plentiful tuna  fish which is fished in the sea; or finally it could depend on the fact that it watches two seas: the Ionio and Mediterranean seas.

The town centre hasn’t any relevant monuments, because  it is quite modern.In the centre there is a big, round shaped square: all around it,  you find cafes  where people meet to have a drink, especially a cup of “espresso” which, is strong Caffe, and the cathredral dating theXVII  century. Near the Square there are shops of any kind , banks and an open market open daily.

Palazzo Tasca

Scibini  Tower:  It is one of the oldest Arabic  buildings

The  houses  and palaces nearby  have got a typical mediterranean feature, both for their architecture and lively colour.

Outside  Pachino there are caves such as (Grotta Calafarina) which date back from Neolitic period or Metal age. Cugni cave is a necropolis with its about thirty tombs placed in the rocks.

Marzamemi

Is a small village of fishermen with an artificial arbour in the centre of the village where small colourful boats  bring fresh  fish.Part of  the  fish  is processed into dry fish or canned or salted fish in the big building called “Adelfio” . He has set up a small factory for this purpose and it is very usual for tourists to buy  specialities  manufactured from tuna ,or, fish from the Actinopterygii family called “ pesce azzurro”, processed roe, tuna belly, tuna in oil , salted tuna and anchoives . Marzamemi is essentially a  seaside resort , it has sandy and large beaches bathed by ionio sea. It is particularly  crowded in summer, because tourists come for swimming and stay at guest houses which are very limited is number, or at private houses rented for a short time.There are not many  hotels  because the place is not well advertised by touristic agencies.It the  centre  of Marzamemi ,  S.Francesco  church  is found, opposite a rectangular square surrounded by low small fishermen houses and the aristocratic house of Princes of Villadorata, owners of the tuna fishery of Marzamemi as well as the remains of a family chapel dedicated to st. Francis of Paola..  So it is not a chance that it has been used as the setting for some recent films of Gabriele Salvatores, Klaus Maria Brandauer and Giuseppe Tornatore.

Marzamemi : air view

Marzamemi :air view  The atmosphere here is really  picturesque  both for its environmental balance and natural beauty  that man’s precence, has managed to maintain here.

Marzamemi  Historical centre

Marzamemi :"Balata" the small harbour