Traveling between Scopello and Castellammare del Golfo, between legends, natural beauty and sweet scents that surround a crystal clear sea
A small village born around an ancient Baglio located above a hill overlooking the sea; a crystalline sea made unique by the presence of the Faraglioni that stand in front of a tiny golden beach; a characteristic Tonnara that in the past was among the most important of the entire island… all this and much more is Scopello, one of the most beautiful places to visit in Sicily.
The atmosphere that you breathe, the colors that fill the eyes, the scent of nature and that of cunzato bread. Scopello is not a place, Scopello is feeling, warmth and joy.
This enchanting village in the province of Trapani, an entrance point for the magnificent Riserva dello Zingaro, was born around the Baglio who was built over a hill in the Norman era. The current shape dates back to the seventeenth century: over time an external square have been added with a stone drinking trough and the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
Inside the Baglio there are the shops of local craftsmen and you can taste the typical food of the place: cunzato bread. It is a homemade bread just churned out with oil, anchovies, cheese, sliced tomato, salt, pepper and oregano: a simple incredibly tasty recipe.
Under the hill there is the small Faraglioni beach, where the Tonnara di Scopello is located. It is one of the oldest and most important sicilian tuna trees. The first buildings were made around the thirteenth century. The Tonnara was built in the fifteenth century by Giovanni Sanclemente and expanded by his family during the following century, before passing owned by the Compagnia di Gesù and, finally, to the Florio family. Above the Tonnara, two towers stand out, the first of 1200, of which only the ruins remain, and the second, the Torre Doria, from 1500. Another tower, not belonging to the Tonnara, is not far away: it is the Torre Bennistra, also dating on 1500, which has been recently restored and from which it is possible to enjoy a beautiful view.
The Beach of Faraglioni is an enchanting golden beach. Facilitated access to the sea makes it ideal for families with children, the crystal clear sea with its fantastic seabed promise continuous wonders for those who makes snorkelling or diving. The Faraglioni that stand out in front of the beach make it unique: precisely from the presence of the Faraglioni the name of the village, Scopello, from the Greek Skopelòs, which means rock, comes from the name of the village. The ancient residents of the place must have immediately sensed the importance and uniqueness that the Faraglioni donated to the village.
Not far away is the Guidaloca beach, a stone beach set between higher rocks on the sea, above which dominates a sighting tower dating back to the 16th century. Here too the crystal clear sea and the numerous caves will be able to fascinate the most experienced swimmers. Even later there is the wild and unspoiled Cala Bianca, with its clear and profound waters, delimited by white rocks, from which the origin of its name comes.
For its beauty Scopello, especially the Beach of Faraglioni, is the protagonist of postcards and beyond: films, TV series and commercials have immortalized this enchanting landscape. In 2004 he was among the places chosen for the film Ocean’s Twelve by director Steven Soderbergh with, among the many well-known actors, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta Jones and Julia Roberts; In 2017 Belen Rodriguez was the protagonist of a spot shot between the beach and the Tonnara; In 2021 the Marilù restaurant for the Rai Màkari fiction with Claudio Gioè was built on this beach.
Just 10 kilometres away there is Castellammare del Golfo, another sicilian pearl of which Scopello is a fraction. Here you can find a fine sandy beach, the Playa, which runs along the town. This country is also rich in surprises, starting from the castle from which it takes its name: it is an Arabic-Norman castle that was built by the Arabs in the 10th century and then enlarged by the Normans first and then by the Swabians, which surrounded it with walls defensive and towers.
Another characteristic element of the country is the Church, called “La Matrici”, or Sanctuary of Maria Santissima del Soccorso (dedicated to the Madonna who, legend, has saved the city from the English invasion of 1718) clearly visible even from afar because it is ended on a tuff rock that makes it raise 25 meters above sea level. The church is baroque but has a classic and sober style and is decorated inside with polychrome marbles that support light stuccos.
Another important place of religion is the church of the Madonna della Scala, dating back to the 17th century, which stands on a hill overlooking the sea. Its construction is linked to a legend: in 1641 a shepherdess, Maria d’Angelo, was leading the flock to graze when it was surprised by a sudden storm and took refuge in a cave just carved out of lightning where she found a box with engraved a cross and a monogram of the Madonna.
Among the civil buildings is to be seen Palazzo Crociferi, a former convent founded in 1659 which today has become the headquarters of the Town Hall. Among the characteristic foods, however, it is impossible not to mention the cassatelle: they are fried ravioli stuffed with ricotta and chocolate chips, a real delight for sweet lovers.
In the road that leads from Castellammare del Golfo to Scopello you can stop in a belvedere from which it is possible to enjoy a magnificent view from the top of the country. It is a mandatory stop to take a souvenir photo. It is easy to understand why Scopello is one of the symbolic places of Sicily.
As small is the village and its beaches represent the best of our land between natural beauty, history and culture: Scopello will be able to surprise you continuously, giving enthusiasm to every glimpse. Amazing Scopello, Amazing Sicily!
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