Pozzallo is a small village overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, surrounded by gentle slopes planted with olive groves and vineyards. The oldest attestations of human presence near the city date back to the Bronze Age and the Castelluccio culture. It reached great economic and commercial importance in the 14th century thanks to the construction of a grain export shipper. It obtained its autonomy from nearby Modica in 1829. Today Pozzallo is a village with a tourist and seafaring vocation, it is famous for its port, the largest of the free consortium, for its wide and splendid beaches and for the fifteenth-century Torre Cabrera .
What is the best time to visit Pozzallo?
Pozzallo can be visited all year round: the welcome and warmth of the Sicilians will amaze you.
But for an unforgettable experience, admiring the colors, tasting the flavors and fully experiencing the traditions, it is advisable to plan a visit on the days of one of the festivals that take place in Pozzallo during the year.
If you want to know about upcoming festivals and events Click here and you will find a list of the most important ones.
What to see
The symbolic building of the city is the Cabrera Tower, built between the 15th and the 16th century, rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693, and declared a national monument. Among other civil architecture, the following are of particular importance: Palazzo Giorgio La Pira, built between 1923 and 1926, now the seat of the municipality; Villa Comunale, the city's main public park; Villa Tedeschi, built in the 19th century, home to the civic library; the Giunta-Musso Palace, a splendid example of Art Nouveau architecture; the Giunta Palace; the Pandolfi Palace; the Di Martino Castle, today in a state of abandonment. Among the religious architecture of particular value are: the Church of the Madonna del Rosario, in neoclassical style, the mother church of the village; the Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Portosalvo, the oldest religious building in the country. The Church of San Giovanni Battista, the Church of San Paolo Apostolo, the Church of Maria Madre della Fiducia and the Chapel of Santa Rosalia are recently built. The great attraction of the village is its splendid coastline bathed by clear, crystalline and particularly clean waters (blue flag since 2019). Famous are the Pietrenere Beach and the Raganzino Beach.
The presence of splendid beaches has favored the growth of seaside tourism in Pozzallo: establishments with sunbeds and umbrellas, numerous refreshment points, sports tournaments on the beach, numerous courses and activities. Numerous alternative out‐door activities are also organized in Pozzallo along what is the southernmost coast in Europe. The Lungomare Pietre Nere area, full of bars, clubs and restaurants, offers evenings of music and conviviality.
Traditional Festivals, Events, Live Show,... Pozzallo
The Fish Festival in Pozzallo is one of the oldest and most renowned Sicilian festivals, promoting freshly caught fish fresh and the ancient maritime tradition of this village. The patronal feast of San Giovanni Battista in Pozzallo it is a festival that is widely attended by the entire population. Particularly evocative is the varchiata, a sea procession with many boats decked out for the occasion.
Typical food, local wines and drinks, traditional dish to taste in Pozzallo
You can obviously taste all the typical products of Sicilian cuisine, the most well-known ones, such as
cannoli,
Sicilian cassata, arancini, etc.
But there are some specialties typical of this area that are more difficult to find in other areas of Sicily.
Given the great seafaring tradition of the village, the main local specialties are based on fish: Savoiarda Pozzallese; Fish Cous Cous; Cold Rice with Salmon and Pistachio; Lasagna with Fish Ragout; Mozzarella and Salmon Puff... Of note is the important wine production, favored by the particularity of the presence of vineyards close to the sea.
Nearby Places
Below you will find a list of the most beautiful places to visit in the surroundings of Pozzallo. The places are located at a maximum distance of about an half hour by car. Good fun!
