Tonnara di Scopello

The little private beach is beautiful, with clear green-blue water, and the whole setting feels peaceful and steeped in history, surrounded by stunning nature. It’s a lovely place from another time. We found that there’s no restaurant, and getting to some rooms, including ours, wasn’t easy. Still, the natural beauty and unusual experience make up for that. It’s a place everyone should stay at least once in their life.

The view from the site and hill was okay, though not especially impressive. The place seemed to be closed for winter: there was a ticket office at the gate, but nobody was there. About 200 meters away, the parking lot was open, with a sign showing a €10 fee, but no attendant. We walked through the gate and up to the site.

The €15-per-person entry charge was a real letdown. We visited off-season, when hardly anyone was there, and paying that much just to walk closer to the sea and take a few pictures felt excessive. I can understand the fee more during the busy summer months, when it may help manage people swimming and snorkeling. Tonnara di Scopello is still a gorgeous, iconic sight in Western Sicily. Its old tuna fishery sits among dramatic cliffs, with two striking faraglioni (sea stacks), and it makes a fantastic photo stop. You can admire an unforgettable panorama from the coastal road without paying to enter. Unless you plan to spend hours swimming or snorkeling in high season, I’d be cautious about paying €15 for a quick visit and photos.

Crystal-clear water, friendly staff, clean facilities, and delicious cocktails make this a paradise of a spot. I can’t rate it below the maximum, and anyone visiting Sicily should go. As a local, though, I have to admit it now feels like a place for tourists. The entrance price has gone up sharply in recent years, and four drinks cost €52. That price level has changed the Sicilian vibe into something aimed at American and posh tourism, which I find boring. Maybe I’m just nostalgic.