Scopello

Scopello is an enchanting village partly on a hill and partly wedged in by coves and cliffs that hold honey-hued homes and reach cobalt blue waters. The tiny town has only about 80 year-round residents and is part of the municipality of Castellmmare del Golfo. In town, though small, there are restaurants, gelaterias, bars and bakery, along with a few stores. Down at the sea are coves for swimming, set in the rocks of the hillside. To reach the sea, there is a footbath down to the coves from the village, or a road (SP 63) accessed from either edge of town to drive down.

The most famous site is La Tonnara, at the water, where tuna fishermen used to bring in their catch to be processed. The building is used for special events and weddings. In front of it is the "beach' which is actually the boat ramp and paved areas at the seaside that people use for sunning and swimming, the water being very enticing. The Torre di Scopello is one of the antique waterside watch towers that formed a coastal defense system, still standing as a nice backdrop to your swim. Below it are the famous faraglioni -rocks that emerge from the water, lending a lovely sight to the swimming cove. Besides the tonnara, the faraglione "beach" is another in which cement platforms make up the sunning area with steps leading to the water. Guidaloca beach is a pebble/small stones beach, more of what most think of, in a curved cove hemmed in by rocky green-covered promontories on either end. Here you'll find some umbrellas and sun beds to rent as well as free beach. Cala Mazzo is another pretty cove with pebble beach and some services as well as paths that lead to free areas, all with crystal-clear water. (See the Travel Guide for beach and other listings.)

Back up above in the village, the Torre Bennistra is a round tower sitting on a high rock, and here you'll enjoy panoramic sweeping views of the landscapes and seascapes. It was built in the 1500s as protection against Saracen and pirate attacks, part of that coastal defense system, so keep your eyes open for all the towers along the coves and coastline here. Take a boat ride to really see the beauty from the sea, and swim in hidden places where the water is so clear and blue you'll marvel.

In the village, enjoy the Church and Garden of Santa Maria delle Grazie; the garden has stone paths adorned with plants and trees, providing a quiet spot for reflection or reading amidst a bit of nature. There is an outdoor church setting, so if you're inclined, an open-air Sunday Mass is nice.

Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro covers 1650 hectares (# acres) with a hilly and rocky coastline of about 7 kilometers and a variety of landscapes within its confines. It is one of the few undisturbed and undeveloped coastal tracts in the area. There are pine woods, caves, sea grottoes, and more. With rich flora and fauna and several walking paths, it is a great place to be out in nature and enjoy the views of the land as well as sea. Within the park is the Borgo Cusenza, a feudal estate from the 1500s, where people lived in a compound and grew wheat, oats, fava, wine grapes and more in a protected village. Also in the park are a few museums: the Museo Naturalistico, Museum of Marine Activity, and Museum of Peasant Life.

Fortified baglio: Experience the heart of Scopello by visiting the central baglio, a picturesque farmstead. Sort of like a Spanish hacienda, it once provided shelter for the local landowner’s animals and workers,the interesting 18th-century construction now plays host to a couple of restaurants, a café and a shop, all of which spill out into the cobbled courtyard in the summer months. Scattered around the baglio are a few houses and restaurants, one of which, Le Terrazze, offers enchanting views out to sea.