Immerse yourself in a crystal clear sea under the white marl cliff that was used by Saracen pirates to plunder the coast
Not only wonders built by man over the centuries: in Sicily there are also many wonders of the nature to be explored, including some incredible beaches. And among the most famous sicilian beaches in the world there is certainly the Scala dei Turchi, near Realmonte, in the province of Agrigento. It is a cliff (i.e. a rocky coast with walls overlooking the sea) of white marl. The sedimentary rock has been carved and smooth by the wind over the centuries creating an imposing staircase with soft and wavy lines that goes down to the sea. Seen from a far, perhaps from sea, it has the appearance of an iceberg or it may seem like a lunar landscape. In any case, the contrast between the white marl and the turquoise sea creates a wonderful and unique effect.
The name Scala dei Turchi is due precisely to the appearance of a large scale and to the fact that in the past the beach represented a safe landing for the Saracen pirate ships, which the local population improperly called “Turks”, an appellation that at the time it was used for all arabic people. The point where the beach stands is sheltered from the winds and the wall with large steps allowed an easy climb to the pirates who could plunder the villages of the coast without great difficulties. La Scala dei Turchi has seen the arrival of tourists increase in recent years, also thanks to its unique beauty that allows fantastic photos to be shared on social networks. The clay and limestone rock is however at hydrogeological risk and direct access to the Falesia has recently been prohibited. You can swim in the two beaches neighboring the rocky ridge or in those of Lido Rossello, about 2,5 kilometers.
The beach in the east of the Scala dei Turchi is clayey with low-leaning rocks: bathing is not suitable for children or to those with swimming difficulties. To the west, however, there is a splendid and long sandy beach, but to reach it you have to walk for over two kilometers between the rocks, often entering with your feet in the water. The effort, however, is rewarded by its beauty and the unique and wild atmosphere. In fact, the distance to go, discourages most of the tourists and the beach is never too crowded, apart from the central weeks of August. The most comfortable is the beach of Lido Rossello, under a promontory dominated by a lighthouse in Capo Rossello. The Scala dei Turchi is part of the places of the heart Fai (Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano), which together with Legambiente contributed to the reduction of an eco-monster in 2013, causing a public belvedere from where it is possible to admire beauty from above of the cliff overlooking the sea. In 2007 a request to UNESCO was presented by the Municipality of Realmonte to insert the geological site in the list of World Heritage Site. The Scala dei Turchi is also located only twenty kilometers from Agrigento and it is therefore possible in a single day to visit the Valle dei Templi, to do, after a dip at the beach, a dip in the remote past of Sicily.
Such a beautiful and unique place could only fascinate directors and artists: so we saw the Scala dei Turchi in Malena movie of Giuseppe Tornatore, In Guerra per Amore of Pif and in Arritmìa by Gibràn Bazàn, the first cinematographic collaboration between Mexico and Sicily . The musical duo Coma Cose has chosen this location for the video of the song “L’Addio”, winner at the Sanremo 2023 festival of the Sergio Bardotti Prize, given to the best text among the songs in the race. The faithful reconstruction that was made in the Microsoft Flight Simulator video game is also incredible, where thanks to the geospace data the developers wanted to insert this rocky ridge within their air flight simulator. If you are on vacation in Sicily, therefore, especially if you are in the Agrigento area, don’t miss this splendor of nature, always remembering to respect the environment to preserve such enchanting places. Amazing Scala dei Turchi, Amazing Sicily!
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