Piazza Regina Margherita

Piazza Regina Margherita is the historic centre of Marzamemi, a fishing village in the municipality of Pachino. The square grew around the tuna fishery, with the Palazzo del Principe di Villadorata, two churches and fishermen’s houses arranged around its open space.

Why it matters

The square preserves the relationship between Marzamemi’s public life and its former tuna fishery. Its buildings include the prince’s palazzo, the fishery’s churches and the fishermen’s houses, keeping the historic layout of the borgata legible.

What to notice

The Palazzo del Principe di Villadorata occupies the western side of the square. The municipality dates it to 1752 and records its sandstone construction, arched portal and central courtyard. Nearby are two churches dedicated to San Francesco di Paola: the older church, dated to 1752, has lost its roof, while the newer white-stone church has a round rose window. The fishermen’s houses and the former communal oven reflect the settlement’s working character.

Context and history

Marzamemi’s tuna fishery was a major part of the village’s history; the regional tourism authority dates its nets to around 1600. The square and surrounding buildings took much of their present form in the eighteenth century. A tuna-processing plant was added in 1912, and the municipality records that catches declined after 1951 as the fishery industry changed. The square remains the historic centre of the village.