Santa Maria del Focallo

This tiny town is officially part of the city of Ispica, but is set apart on a long stretch of seacoast. It was named for an antique church that was destroyed in the earthquake in 1693. Like all of Sicily, there were Greek origins here.

Today's town is a sleepy community that centers on its beautiful beaches. There are seven kilometers of golden sand that front the sea from the "tavole del re" to Punta Muro. The clear water and pristine beaches backed by natural vegetation were designated as "bandiera blu" (blue flag) for their environmental cleanliness.

Santa Maria del Focallo was one of the landing spots for Operation Husky during WWII, where Canadian forces came ashore on July 10, 1943.