Portopalo di Capo Passero

The cluster is at Capo Passero on the Ionian coast, with the sea on both sides of the headland and beaches and rocky shoreline around Portopalo and the Isola di Capo Passero immediately offshore. The coast here is the southern tip of eastern Sicily, with open views over the sea and low Mediterranean scrub rather than mountains. The Vendicari Nature Reserve is nearby along this stretch of coast. Marzamemi is the nearest small centre of note on the same coastal strip, with a historic tuna-fishery settlement. Noto is the nearest major town of art in the area, known for its Baroque centre and UNESCO status, but it lies beyond the immediate surroundings. The area is known for fishing, tuna fisheries, and the meeting point of the Ionian and Mediterranean seas at the island tip.