Marzamemi and Portopalo day trip from Siracusa or Noto or Modica
A day trip to Marzamemi and Portopalo from Siracusa, Noto or Modica: the Vendicari reserve with the Torre Sveva and the old tonnara, a swim at Calamosche, lunch on Marzamemi's piazza by the old tonnara, the flamingos of the Pantani Cuba and Longarini, the Terrazza dei Due Mari at Portopalo facing Capo Passero island, then the Isola delle Correnti at Sicily's southern tip. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Marzamemi and Portopalo in 1 day
Day 1
Vendicari Nature Reserve (Torre Sveva and the old tonnara)
Coastal reserve of lagoons, dunes and beaches, with the Swabian tower and the ruined tuna fishery; herons and flamingos feed in the marshes.
Calamosche
Small sheltered cove of fine sand between two rocky headlands in the Vendicari reserve, reached by a walk through the scrub.
Marzamemi: Piazza Regina Margherita and the old tonnara
Fishing village built around an old tuna fishery, its stone square lined with fish restaurants, shops and bars on the sea.
Pantani Cuba and Longarini (flamingos)
Coastal salt marshes between Marzamemi and Pachino where flamingos, herons and other wading birds often gather, best watched with binoculars.
Portopalo: Terrazza dei Due Mari (view of Capo Passero island and its fort)
Viewpoint at Sicily's southernmost town looking over two seas to Capo Passero island and its Spanish fort.
Isola delle Correnti
Tiny island with a lighthouse at Sicily's southern tip, where two seas meet; the classic place to watch the sunset.
Watch: Marzamemi and Portopalo
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
A car is the easy way: from Noto it is about 30 minutes, from Siracusa about 50 minutes to 1 hour and from Modica about 1 hour. Buses from Siracusa and Noto reach Marzamemi and Pachino, but not the beaches; Calamosche is a walk from the Vendicari reserve car park off the Noto-Pachino road.
Staying in Siracusa or Noto or Modica? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Marzamemi and Portopalo
May, June and September are the best months: warm sea, open restaurants and fewer crowds than in July and August, when Marzamemi is packed in the evenings. In summer the village hosts the Festival del Cinema di Frontiera, with outdoor screenings in the piazza. Winter is mild, but many restaurants close and the beaches are empty.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Marzamemi and Portopalo on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Marzamemi and Portopalo on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Marzamemi and Portopalo on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
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Tips for Marzamemi and Portopalo
- Calamosche is reached on foot from the reserve car park in about 15-20 minutes; bring water, shade and shoes for the path, as there are no bars on the beach.
- Arrive early at Calamosche in summer: parking is limited and the reserve gates close in the evening.
- Marzamemi is a place to eat: try raw prawns, tuna and bottarga, and Pachino cherry tomatoes, grown in the fields around.
- Stay at the Isola delle Correnti for sunset, where the Ionian Sea meets the Mediterranean; at low water you can wade across to the island.
- A car is the easy way; buses from Siracusa and Noto reach Marzamemi and Pachino, but not Calamosche or the Isola delle Correnti.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Isola delle Correnti: fotovideomike from Italia (Michele Ponzio, @michele_ponzio), CC BY-SA 2.0
- Marzamemi: Piazza Regina Margherita and the old tonnara: Carlomorino, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Portopalo: Terrazza dei Due Mari (view of Capo Passero island and its fort): Azotoliquido, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Vendicari Nature Reserve (Torre Sveva and the old tonnara): Davide Mauro, CC BY 2.0 it
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
