Tonnarella dell'Uzzo

At the northern edge of the Zingaro Nature Reserve, the Tonnarella dell’Uzzo marks the meeting of the protected coastline and the broad cove below. The former tuna-fishing site belongs to a landscape shaped by the sea and by generations of coastal work.

Why it matters

The Tonnarella dell’Uzzo lies at the northern boundary of the Zingaro Nature Reserve, whose territory extends from Cala Mazzo di Sciacca to this point. Its name recalls the small-scale tuna fishery that once formed part of the local maritime economy. The reserve’s official history also includes a Museum of Maritime Activities among its cultural facilities.

What to notice

The low complex stands beside the coast, close to the pebble cove of the same name. Its position relates the former fishery to the sea it depended on and to the surrounding limestone shoreline. The cove and the protected coast form part of the broader landscape of the Zingaro reserve.

Context and history

The Tonnarella dell’Uzzo is associated with traditional tuna fishing along the western Sicilian coast. The Zingaro Nature Reserve was established under regional law in 1981 after public opposition to a proposed coastal road. The former fishery now forms part of the reserve’s cultural landscape, alongside its natural habitats and maritime heritage.