Scopello, Sicily; with a beautiful small bay with rock stacks in the sea

Visit Scopello

Scopello is a tiny fishing village located between the Zingaro Natural reserve to the north and Castellammare del Golfo to the south. The main village is slightly inland and there is a small but very beautiful cove which is where most visitors to Scopello are headed.

Explore Scopello

Sicily Visitor review: the tiny bay here is one of the prettiest in Sicily and great for swimming. It is however very small and there is an admission fee.

The small cove at Scopello is very beautiful with its backdrop of cliffs and in the bay a number of dramatic huge rocks in the sea called faraglioni. The sea itself is a mix of turqoise, blues and greens which adds to the natural beauty.

On top of the cliffs are a number of defensive towers and occupying a lot of the beach there is a cluster of buildings called the Tonnara de Scopello that were once a tuna fishery. This has long been abandoned and was falling to ruin.

However this idyllic spot which was always popular with the locals for swimming, sun bathing and snorkling was used as a location in Oceans Twelve and an episode of Inspector Montalbano and the tourists came flooding in.

As a result the owner of the tonnara renovated the buildings and turned them into tourist accommodation and a small museum. The bay was privatised, much to the anger of the locals, and now a small charge is payable to visit the museum and use the beach.

The Tuna museum contains tuna fishing boats, ropes and nets and tools used by the tuna fishing industry as well as information about the lives of the tuna fishermen when the industry was an important one for Sicily.

When you have visited the museum and beach and its stunning views it is worth heading for the village centre. The village of Scopello is small but attractive and has a couple of cafes and restaurants where you can sit and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.

There is also a diving centre if you wish to go diving in the clear waters around the faraglioni (large rocks).

Where to visit near to Scopello?

If you enjoy walking be sure to visit the Zingaro Natural Reserve whose entrance is just one kilometer from Scopello. It has a lovely coastal path with access to a couple of pretty beaches and several other paths through the attractive countryside.

Castellammare del Golfo is a pleasant coastal resort just south of Scopello and to the north San Vito lo Capo is a thriving resort.

Of course close to here is the fabulous city of Palermo which has some amazing treasures including the Cappella Palatina whose walls and roof are covered in the most stunning golden mosaics.

You can find more local travel ideas in the North Sicily guide,