Scopello, Sicily: Zingaro, the Tonnara and day trips

Scopello is a small village on the north-west coast of Sicily and part of the municipality of Castellammare del Golfo. Villa Giulietta lies about 2 km south of it, in Contrada Sarmuci, so most of what we suggest to our guests is a short drive away: the Zingaro nature reserve, the pebble coves along the coast, the harbour town of Castellammare and the ancient site of Segesta. We last checked these details in October 2026. Two things have changed this year: the Zingaro has reopened after the 2025 fire, and the Tonnara di Scopello has closed.

The Zingaro nature reserve

The Riserva dello Zingaro starts just beyond the village. Sicily's first nature reserve, it was founded in 1981 after years of protest against a planned coast road. The reserve covers 1,650 hectares and about 7 km of coastline and climbs to 913 metres at Monte Speziale. Cars are not allowed inside, so you go on foot.

The south entrance is about 1 km beyond Scopello, roughly ten minutes by car from the villa. From there the coastal path runs for about 7 km to the north entrance on the San Vito Lo Capo side, and the reserve reckons on two hours each way. Along the way it passes a string of coves, among them Cala della Capreria, Cala Berretta, Cala Marinella and Tonnarella dell'Uzzo, all of them pebbly. The reserve's 2026 map also shows two higher routes: a mid-slope path of 7.5 km and a high path of 13 km. Paths, tickets and the coves are covered in our article on the Zingaro.

In July 2025 a fire swept through the Zingaro and the Monte Cofano reserve. It badly damaged plants, wildlife and infrastructure, and the regional government put the burnt protected area at about 1,600 hectares. The south entrance reopened on 14 March 2026 and the north entrance on 9 May 2026, and in October 2026 the reserve listed all its paths as open.

Tickets and rules

Entry is €5 (reduced €3) and free for children under 8.
The reserve takes no cash, only card payments.
Dogs are not allowed, not even on a lead.
Opening hours change with the season; check the current times on riservazingaro.it before you go.
Wear walking shoes, not flip-flops.

Take plenty of drinking water. The wells and troughs along the paths only have water that is not safe to drink.

The village of Scopello

Scopello itself is small: narrow lanes, stone buildings and a square with cafés and a handful of restaurants and bistros. From the villa it takes about five minutes by car, close enough for a morning coffee or dinner after a day at the sea. In summer the centre is a restricted traffic zone, so leave the car outside and walk in.

The Tonnara di Scopello: closed since September 2026

The Tonnara di Scopello, a former tuna fishery, sits in a small bay on the coast near the village, with the Faraglioni, a group of tall sea stacks, just offshore. Its oldest part, the boat store, dates from around the 13th century, and a watchtower stands on the rock above. The Florio family were among the buyers when the Tonnara was auctioned in 1874. The tuna used to pass this coast between May and June.

At the end of September 2026 the Tonnara closed to visitors. Its 32 co-owners are in dispute, and the company that ran it has lost its permits. By 23 October we had found no report of a reopening; on 24 October the operator's ticket page still showed normal opening hours. We would not plan a visit until tickets can be booked again.

Swimming is not possible either. Sicily's 2026 bathing decree lists 900 metres of coast around the Tonnara and the Faraglioni as closed for safety reasons. Even when the Tonnara was open, its rules kept everyone out of the little cove, swimmers included. Many travel websites still recommend it for a swim, which the official rules do not support. You can see the Faraglioni from the shore, though, and from the boats that run along this coast. The Tonnara's history and the dispute are in our article on the Tonnara.

Beaches near the villa

Booking.com lists five beaches within 5 km of the villa. At one of them, the Tonnara, swimming is banned.

Beaches near Villa Giulietta
Beach	From the villa	What to expect
Tonnara di Scopello	3.2 km	No swimming (2026 bathing decree)
Cala dell'Ovo	3.6 km	Small cove of pebbles and rock, no facilities, water shoes advised
Guidaloca	3.7 km	Sheltered pebble bay with beach clubs, showers and paid parking
Cala Mazzo di Sciacca	4.3 km	White pebbles, short path from the road, kiosk reported
Cala Rossa	4.9 km	Pebbles, reached by steps, no facilities

Source: Booking.com (shortest walking or driving distance from the villa); Regione Siciliana, bathing decree 2026; spiagge.it; scopello.sicilia.it; Balarm; voloscontato.it

With small children, Guidaloca is the easiest choice: the bay is sheltered, the sea is usually calm, and besides the beach clubs with sunbeds there are free stretches of beach. Cala Mazzo di Sciacca lies at the southern edge of the Zingaro, and the coves inside the reserve are reached on foot along the coastal path. Distances to towns and airports are on our location page, and our article on the beaches near Scopello compares the beaches in more detail.

Day trips: Castellammare del Golfo and Segesta

Castellammare del Golfo, 8 km away and about 20 minutes by car, is the nearest town. It has a castle and a harbour promenade lined with bars, restaurants, cafés and ice cream parlours. At the harbour you can book a boat trip or hire a boat; some need no licence. The weekly market is on Saturday mornings from 8 am to 1 pm.

Segesta, 19 km from the villa, has an archaeological site with an ancient Greek theatre. Our wine tip is Tonnino. The winery has its cellar in the Baglio Ceuso at Calatafimi-Segesta, a farm estate built in 1860 and reopened in 2023 after restoration. Tonnino offers tastings by appointment through vinitonnino.com.

Day trips from the villa
Place	Distance
Scopello	2 km
Castellammare del Golfo	8 km
Segesta	19 km
Alcamo	22 km
Trapani	32 km
Erice	35 km
San Vito Lo Capo	40 km
Palermo	75 km

Source: Previous Villa Giulietta website; Segesta from Booking.com

Food and wine

Order fish, seafood or pasta here, and in summer a granita. Our three favourite restaurants are all on the harbour promenade in Castellammare, Via Don Leonardo Zangara: La Tonnara for fish, Luxor for pizza and fish with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes, and Booga Wooga for Mediterranean food and an aperitivo by the water.

If you would rather cook, the villa has a modern SMEG kitchen and an outdoor kitchen with a grill; there is more about the house and its kitchens on our villa page. Do the shopping at the Saturday market or the supermarkets in Castellammare; Scopello has a few small food shops.

Rates and conditions are on our rates page. You can also ask us about the area before you book.

Questions and answers

Can you swim at the Tonnara di Scopello?

No. Sicily's 2026 bathing decree lists 900 metres of coast around the Tonnara and the Faraglioni as closed for safety reasons, and the Tonnara itself has been closed to visitors since the end of September 2026.

How much does the Zingaro nature reserve cost?

Entry is €5 (reduced €3) and free for children under 8. The reserve only takes card payments, no cash.

How far is Villa Giulietta from Scopello and the beaches?

The village is about 2 km away, around five minutes by car. Apart from the closed Tonnara, the nearest beaches are Cala dell'Ovo at 3.6 km and Guidaloca at 3.7 km, and the south entrance of the Zingaro is about ten minutes by car.

Sources

Sources accessed on 23 October 2026 unless noted.