Scopello, Trapani

Scopello is a coastal village, in the municipality of Castellammare del Golfo in the province of Trapani in Italy.

Territory

The village rose around a little ''baglio'' which is 10 kilometres from Castellammare del Golfo. Its inhabitants are 118, but in summer they become about 2,000. Near it there are the Riserva naturale dello Zingaro (Nature Oriented Reserve lo Zingaro) and Scopello’s stacks (the ''Faraglioni'') with the adjoining tonnara. Its name probably derives from the words stacks or rocks (scopulus in Latin and scopelos in Greek).
At few kilometres from the baglio there is Guidaloca, a bay bounded by "Pizzo della Gnacara" and la "Puntazza". Inside it you will find an arc-shaped large beach, formed by pebbles, 400 metres long. West of the “cala”(a bay) there is a cylindrical tower dating back to the 16th century, placed to guard that part of coast..

History

The first settlement dates back to the Hellenistic Era, and continued through the Roman and Islamic Ages. During the Norman period it was a Crown property. In the 13th century the emperor Frederick II of Swabia granted Scopello’s land to Oddone de Camerana, a Piedmontese, and to the Lombard knights who arrived in Sicily with him. In 1237 Oddone di Camerana and his Lombard knights moved to Corleone, and the emperor gave Scopello as a feud to the town Monte San Giuliano (now Erice).
The present village dates back to the 17th century and is divided into two parts: a baglio, which is assigned to the Norman period, but dating back to the 18th century, and a small square with the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (Our Lady of Graces), a parish since 1961, together with a few houses. Ferdinand II of Bourbon chose the area of Scopello, with its near wood, as the royal hunting reserve, visiting it twice, in 1830 and 1859. After the unity of Italy, it was bought at very low prices by some members of Mafia of Castellammare del Golfo who had supported the unification cause and then sold these lands at market price.

When to go

As Scopello is a touristic seaside resort, the best period is from April to October, but in winter you can also visit it together with the numerous near attractions such as: Castellammare del Golfo, Calatafimi-Segesta, Alcamo, Riserva naturale dello Zingaro, Erice, San Vito Lo Capo.

The Tonnara

The tonnara of Scopello is one of the most important and oldest ones in Sicily: the first buildings date back to the 13th century; the proper tonnara was built in the 15th century by Giovanni Sanclemente and enlarged by the Sanclemente family during the 16th century. Later it passed to the Society of Jesus and finally to the Florio family. In the last years, the Tonnara becomes popular with tourists from all over the world, especially since the location became the backdrop of some international movies and tv series productions.Places in Sicily: Scopello
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Images

File:Tonnara di Scopelo - General view.JPG, The stacks and tonnara of Scopello
File:Faraglioni di Scopello.JPG, The stacks of Scopello
File:Baglio di Scopello ingresso.JPG, The entrance to Scopello's baglio
File:Scopello abbeveratoio.JPG, The watering hole near the baglio
File:Chiesetta a Scopello.jpg, The small church of Scopello
File:Tonnara di Scopello - Plage.JPG, The "tonnara" of Scopello
File:Torre Bennistra (Scopello) 10.jpg, Torre Bennistra (the tower)

See also

*Gulf of Castellammare
*Riserva naturale dello Zingaro

Notes

1.^ Dati Istat 2001, dawinci.istat.it. URL consultato l'08-12-2011.

2.^ Fonte Istat 2001

3.^ Il baglio di Scopello

4.^ Chiesascopellobalatadibaida.it

References

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Frazioni of the Province of Trapani
Geography of Sicily
Beaches of Italy
Landforms of Sicily