Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Castellammare del Golfo is only 44km from Palermo's Falcone-Borsellino (Punta Raisi)
airport via the A29 autostrada.
TRAIN
The train station is an inconvenient 3km out of town, although there is a shuttle bus
(€1.50). There are frequent trains from Palermo (€5.75, 1½ to 1¾ hours, eight daily) and
Trapani (€4.65, one hour, four daily).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Scopello
The hamlet of Scopello couldn't be any more charming if it tried. Built around an 18th-
century
baglio
fortified with a high wall and huge gates, its white houses and smooth-
stone streets look like they belong in a 1950s Italian movie. In fact, the historic
tonnara
(tuna-processing plant) on the shore below is a popular film location - the 2004 Holly-
wood blockbuster
Ocean's Twelve
was filmed here, as was an episode of the
Inspector
Montalbano
TV series.
Favourite pastimes in Scopello include sipping a coffee on the main piazza, hiking in
the nearby Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro and swimming in one of Sicily's most idyllic
coves, which is next to the
tonnara
. Flanked by two tall rocks, one of which is crowned
by a medieval tower, the cove has incredibly blue waters and a rough-pebbled beach,
Spiaggia dei Faraglioni
.
The beach is private property, so you'll have to pay €3 admission, plus a parking fee,
and abide by other restrictions - no beach umbrellas or photos of the
tonnara
, which is for
the private use of the owners and their guests.
Try to avoid Scopello in August, when it becomes unpleasantly crowded.
Eating
If you're staying at Pensione Tranchina (
Click here
)
, make sure to take advantage of its
fabulous home-cooked meals. Unfortunately, the
pensione
doesn't cater for outsiders un-
less one of its own guests opts to skip dinner; interested nonguests are welcome to check
around 5pm to see if a table has opened up.
Bar Pasticceria Scopello
BAKERY, CAFE
€
