Abandoned ancient tuna factory in western Sicily

by Silva Wischeropp

This maritime landscape shot was taken in April 2019 during my Easter trip to the island of Sicily. The image was taken with the Nikon camera.

Three kilometres from the centre of San Vito Lo Capo is one of the most emblematic places in the entire area: the Tonnara del Secco , a mandatory stop for those who want to know the history of these places.
Aristocratic buildings surrounded the ancient tonnara, whose nets were let out a few metres from the shore to catch the large tunas that in spring crossed the waters of the Gulf of Castellammare in great numbers on their race to reproduce.
Those who were lucky enough to witness the San Vito Lo Capo massacre remember the owners sitting comfortably with their guests on the terrace of the "Palazzotto" while a few metres away the "crew" slaughtered.
The nets have not been cast since 1969, but the place is still full of charm and the fishermen who visit it like to tell how the slaughters took place.
Next to the buildings of the tuna factory, you can still admire the remains of ancient fish processing plants that date back to the
dating back to the 4th century BC. Here, the fish caught in the nearby sea - including tuna - was processed.
The tanks were made of cocciopesto and "elevated" with a drainage channel for discharging the process water into the sea.