Portopalo was built by one man. Don Gaetano Deodato Moncada set about improving this piece of coast from 1778; in 1792 he had about a hundred houses put up at his own expense around the tuna trap, and brought some three hundred people to live there, farmers, shepherds and fishermen.
Bluefin tuna is the reason for everything: the southernmost point of Sicily lies on the routes of the eastern Mediterranean, and fish was caught and processed here in Greek and Roman times. The town has changed names more than once, Capo Pachino, Terra Nobile, then Porto Palo, and for over a century and a half it remained a frazione of Pachino. There are 3,749 residents.
Arancino · Pasta alla Norma
Compare hotels, B&Bs and holiday homes on Booking.com for your dates.
Next up: Saint Cajetan of Thiene, patron of a town born beside a tuna fishery in 1792, Saturday 7 August
Nearest airport: Catania Fontanarossa, 87 km away
No events match these filters.
📅 Every year, on 7 August
Portopalo di Capo Passero celebrates Saint Cajetan of Thiene on 7 August; today's town was born through the initiative of don Gaetano Deodato Moncada, who in 1792 had about a hundred houses built at his own expense near the local tuna fishery.
Saffron rice, ragù with peas and caciocavallo inside a golden cone-shaped crust: in Catania it is masculine and pointed, and the quarrel with Palermo over the name is serious.
Read more →Straight-line distances from the town centre. Tap a point to open its page.
The closest destinations covered by our editors, with straight-line distance.
Outside Portopalo di Capo Passero, but an easy day trip away.
