Marzamemi, hamlet of the village of Pachino (SR), is a small fishing village whose name derives from Arabic and means “bay of tortures”. The original layout dates to the Arab domination of Sicily.
Marzamemi is deeply tied to its tonnara, built in 1600. Its coastline on the Ionian Sea has two natural harbours, fossa and balata. The two small islets of Marzamemi rise from the Ionian Sea, the smaller features an elegant villa.
The historical centre of the village is part of the tonnara: piazza Regina Margherita is bounded by 17th century square fishermen’s cottages with pitched roofs, and by the palace of the Prince of Villadorata, who owned the tonnara, which was built in 1752 when the cottages were restructured. There are also two churches on the square, both dedicated to Marzamemi’s patron saint, Francis of Paola: the older was built at the same time as the palace, the other in the early 1900s.
Sicilia Film Commission
Via Emanuele Notarbartolo 9 — 90141 Palermo
Phone: +39 091 7078008; +39 091 7078264; +39 091 7078133; +39 091 7078145
Email: filmcommission@regione.sicilia.it
