Vendicari and Marzamemi, a day by the sea
Morning among the marshes and beaches of the Vendicari reserve, evening in the square at Marzamemi: a day on the coast south of the estate.
- Reading time
- 2 min
- Published
- 19 October 2026
South of the estate the coast drops and changes: no high cliffs, but marshes, dunes, sandy coves and small fishing harbours. Vendicari and Marzamemi sit one after the other along this stretch, and fit well together in a single day.
The order matters. See the reserve in the morning, before the heat, when the birds are most active and there are few people on the paths. Marzamemi, on the other hand, is at its best towards evening.
Morning among the marshes
The Vendicari reserve was set up in 1984 to protect a strip of coast and its marshes, pools of brackish water cut off from the sea by a line of dunes. From the main entrance a flat path runs alongside the marshes, with a few wooden hides where you can watch the birds without disturbing them.
Flamingos are seen mainly between autumn and spring, when the marshes are full; in summer the water recedes and there are fewer birds. Alongside them you will find herons, little egrets and black winged stilts. Binoculars make all the difference.
The Swabian tower and the tuna fishery
Carrying on towards the sea you reach the Swabian tower, a square stone tower that once watched over the coast, and a little further on the remains of the tuna fishery, its chimney still standing beside the beach. This is where the tuna caught off this coast was processed.
Next to the tuna fishery is the beach of Vendicari, a stretch of sand a few minutes’ walk from the main entrance.
A swim at Calamosche
For a swim, the best known cove in the reserve is Calamosche, further north. It has its own entrance, and from there the beach can only be reached on foot, along a path through the scrub.
There are no bars or umbrellas inside the reserve. Bring water, something to eat and some shade, and take away everything you brought. In summer, check the reserve’s opening times and notices before you go.
Marzamemi towards evening
In the late afternoon, move on to Marzamemi, a little further south. The village faces east, out to sea, so the sun sets behind the houses: you do not come here to watch it drop into the water, but for the low light that warms the stone of the square and the boats in the little harbour.
The heart of the village is Piazza Regina Margherita, ringed by fishermen’s cottages and the palazzo of the princes of Villadorata, with the buildings of the old tuna fishery beside it. The village shops sell tuna preserves and bottarga, both local specialities.
In summer the square fills up after dinner. If you arrive earlier, around sunset, you have time to walk round the village slowly and choose where to sit.