If you’re interested in Italy’s island region of Sicily, you’ve probably heard a ton about Catania, Palermo, and Taormina.
Yet it’s even more interesting to dig into smaller (but still popular) areas around the island, which is how I’d categorize Marzamemi and Vendicari Nature Reserve.
Both are located in southeastern Sicily, south of Catania and south of the famous Baroque town of Noto. If you’re renting a car (which you will have to do to reach these areas without a local driver), you’re 20 to 30 minutes or so from Noto to each location.
Yet they both offer an intriguing glimpse of life in this tucked-in corner of traditional Sicily–Marzamemi revealing history related to commercial tuna fishing and Vendicari Nature Reserve offering a quiet retreat, bird watching, and also some tuna fishing history.
Here’s what we experienced during our visit in early 2026–and some tips for your own trip planning. Note that I was traveling solo but I use “we” in my article to avoid saying “I” constantly.
Marveling at the Sea and Sicilian Food at Marzamemi
If you want to see the sea (pun intended), feel a breeze, and try Sicilan seafood in a colorful setting, then head on over to Marzamemi. Although not as large or flashy as Ortigia, it was a picturesque afternoon diversion.
Although the visit was short, I’d say it was one of my favorite parts of my southeastern Sicily trip.
Much of today’s Marzamemi is what remains of an old tonnara, or tuna processing plant. Yet the full fishing village has roots dating back to the 1000s when Sicily was under Arab rule (Sicily has been conquered by many different groups, which is why you find a mix of Arab, Spanish, Norman, Greek, and other cultures in its architecture and food). The name Marzamemi is thought to be linked to the Arabic “marsa al hamem,” meaning Turtle Dove Cove.
The present-day view of Marzamemi is said to date back to the mid-16th to mid-18th centuries and includes San Francesco di Paola Church, the old fishermens’ homes, the tuna manufacturing plant, along with a courtyard. The brownish rustic buildings have turquoise and yellow splashes of color, giving them their authenic Mediterranean-by-the-sea look.
Living in southwest Florida, I couldn’t resist comparing Marzamemi to our local commercial fishing village of Cortez right on the Gulf. Both have completely different looks but share some similar history, and both welcome visitors to try local fish and seafood.
The GPS first took me to a large parking area that looked nothing like the Marzamemi I follow on Instagram (@Marzememi_Sicily). To avoid the same problem, use “Tonnara di Marzamemi” in your GPS as that should take you much closer to the main village area.
After parking, I began to stroll, at first along the Ionian Sea (it was windy!) and then closer to the restaurants and shops. I wandered aimlessly for my first stroll, noticing the cats and the colors. I have so many pics of stray cats in Sicily.
I then strolled out onto a pier that had a metal cross toward the end. This provided a great view of the beautiful Ionian Sea and some colorful boats. On one side of the pier toward the land, I could see a group of workers. When Cyclone Harry hit Sicily in January 2026 and caused more than $1 billion (USD) in damage, Marzamemi received some water damage. I’m not sure if they were repairing post-storm damage.
As I was there during lunchtime on a weekday, the gift shops were closed. If you really want to shop till you drop, you may want to save your visit for a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, when Marzamemi gets even more visitors and gift shops are likely to be open.
Instead, I was more focused on the food. I chose Calamaro Portodimare Ristorante for its scenic view, and I sat beside a few other tourists taking their time with their meals. The overall restaurant pace to get the meal and the check was pretty laidback.
For lunch I chose the Sapori Siculi, a vegetarian pasta dish with Sicilian pesto (yum), sun dried tomatoes, garlic, basil, pine nuts, raisins and almonds, and something called muddica atturrata. That’s apparently a Sicilian version of toasted breadcrumbs.
There are mixed reviews online of the restaurant but I must say, it was perhaps my favorite pasta dish of the whole trip. The combination of a scenic view on a breezy day while watching the cats and the sea definitely helped.
Finding Peace at Vendicari Nature Reserve
If you like nature photography, an outdoor stroll, or perhaps just a quiet place to reflect, then consider visiting Vendicari Nature Reserve just minutes away from Marzamemi. In Italian, it’s called Riserva Naturale Orientata Oasi Faunistica di Vendicara.
The reserve has more than 3,700 acres of beach area and protected wetlands as well as five separate entrances. This website from Trails of Sicily has some interesting history about Vendicari, from its B.C. origins to the presence of its Greek ruins to the tuna processing plant to plans in the not-so-distance past to build an oil refinery or turn it into a tourist complex (!). Thankfully, it became a protected reserve in the 1980s.
If you’re looking to just wander, no worries. Choose the first entrance you find on your GPS and enjoy.
If you want a more specific experience, research in advance where you want to go and find the entrance that’s closest.
For my visit, I chose the main entrance called the Vendicari entrance. It took me down a dirt-and-rock road, but there were signs that assured me I was going the right way.
I paid the admission fee and asked the friendly man working there about the stray cats that were hanging near the entrance. He told me how he helped keep watch over them and in fact, the two that I saw were actually mother and daughter. I took pics of the cats and of him with the cats, using my beginning Italian to chat with him.
I decided to wander a bit, which led me to a bird watching area where you can see flamingoes from afar (flamingoes! we have those in Florida, too). There’s plenty of other bird watching there, including herons and black cormorants.
Then, I walked along a boardwalk area that took me on a trail beside the sea and eventually ended up in the ruins of an old tuna processing plant (Tonnara of Vendicari, which was open from 1655 to 1944).
There’s also a small museum area where you can learn more about the tuna processing plant and some of the other happenings at Vendicari.
FYI, the restrooms are right beside the museum.
Vendicari Nature Reserve has several beach areas, including Eloro Beach and Calamosche Beach. Since my visit took place in February and not summer, I can’t give you much tea on the beaches.
From what I read online, the beaches are somewhat less crowded than nearby Lido di Noto or San Lorenzo. However, being in a park area, Vendicari’s beaches don’t have chairs or other beach amenities you’d find elsewhere.
I actually felt right at home in Vendicari as it reminded me of some of Florida’s state parks, particularly Fort De Soto Park in St. Petersburg. Fort De Soto also combines history (an old fort), nature, and a beach area.
With more time or repeat visits, I would have explored other trails.
One more similarity with the Florida vibe–this little guy! (See picture above.) He was similar to the geckos we often see in the Sunshine State.
Tips for Your Visit to Marzamemi and Vendicari
—Make a half-day or a full-day trip out of your visit to Marzamemi and Vendicari. These two are close to each other, so it would be easy to take your nature walk at Vendicari and then enjoy a meal at Marzamemi, or vice versa. If you really like to take your time strolling, you could probably turn these two destinations into a full-day experience. If you’re going to Vendicari for beach time, then you could do a beach day there followed by an evening meal at Marzamemi.
—Plan what time of the day you want to go. Because it’s a park, Vendicari is open during the daytime but closed in the evening. Marzamemi is open during the day and into the evening so you can choose when to visit. We think an evening visit is a great idea as it’s surely more lively, but you may not feel as open to that if you’re a little nervous driving in the dark in a foreign country. If you’re stayiing in a nearby beach area–say, San Lorenzo–this is less of a concern as you’re just minutes away. If you’re staying in Noto, you may not feel confident about nighttime driving (or at least I didn’t), especially if you plan to have a glass of vino or two during your Marzamemi visit. If you’re staying in Noto and want to see a different town in the evening, consider checking out the nearby beach town of Avola.
–-Expect to pay a small entrance fee for Vendicari. At the time of our visit, it was 3.5 Euros, or about $4 U.S. For comparison, that’s the typical fee to enter a state park in our home state of Florida.
—Bring sunscreen, water, and maybe a hat to explore Vendicari. This is the same advice we dispense on our Florida travel blogs. Many parts of the walking trails are in the sun, and it can get hot at certain times of the year. If you’re going for a beach day, bring everything you need, including snacks and drinks as they aren’t for sale at the park. Pay attention to where you’re going so you know how to get back. Visit early if you’re going in the summer to avoid the midday heat.
Enjoy your visit to Marzamemi and Vendicari/buon viaggio! Got questions? Leave a comment and let us know.
Italy Dreams 
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