Pozzallo is a small town near Ragusa in Sicily. A town with a touristic and maritime vocation, Pozzallo is renowned for its port, wide beaches, and the 15th-century Cabrera Tower, which stands as its major attraction. The town is 35 km away from the city of Ragusa and borders Modica to the north and Ispica to the northeast.
Where is Pozzallo located?
Pozzallo, a charming coastal town located on the southern coast of Sicily, is an enticing destination for tourists looking for a blend of sun, sea, and Sicilian culture. Known for its beaches and romantic atmosphere, Pozzallo offers a range of activities and sights that cater to various interests. Here’s a guide for what to see in Pozzallo.
The history of Pozzallo
The territory of Pozzallo shows signs of human presence from the Bronze Age, as evidenced by studies of necropolises found in the area. The Bellamagna necropolis is the most well-known among these. The counts of Modica have a close connection to Pozzallo’s history. Indeed, at the end of the 14th century, Manfredi III Chiaramonte, count of Modica, aimed to conquer the coastal line, corresponding to present-day Pozzallo, for its springs and freshwater wells, which were crucial for supplying water to boats.
Manfredi died in 1391. Andrea Chiaramonte, his successor, successfully implemented Manfredi’s plan to conquer the area and construct a port. He constructed a warehouse for loading goods onto ships. Andrea Chiaramonte’s successors expanded the warehouse of goods and fortified it with the addition of Cabrera Tower.
The modern history of Pozzallo
The 16th and 17th centuries were a very challenging period for Pozzallo’s survival. Continuous plague epidemics, famines, and two floods led to the depopulation of the territory. Added to this was the devastating earthquake of 1693, which severely damaged the city. Pirates repeatedly attacked Pozzallo, which had no defenses. After these events, the city built stronger fortifications.
The 19th Century
The increase in maritime and commercial traffic marked a period of prosperity for Pozzallo. Due to population growth, there were plans to split from Modica and become an autonomous municipality. After several decades, on June 12, 1829, Francesco I of the Two Sicilies granted Pozzallo the status of an autonomous municipality.
Pozzallo is a new municipality.
Becoming a municipality led to significant population growth. Pozzallo developed around three main areas: the area around Cabrera Tower, the area near the Senia freshwater well, which corresponds to the current Vico Vicci neighborhood, and the area around the Pozzofeto well, which is today’s Scaro neighborhood.
During this period, Pozzallo began a program of public works construction. Pozzallo opened new streets and squares and built the Balata commercial pier, the Municipal Villa, the market, the elementary school, and the church.
Risorgimento and the World Wars
Pozzallo was one of the protagonists of the Italian Risorgimento (the unification of Italy). It was one of the first towns to rebel against the Bourbons rulers after Giuseppe Garibaldi’s Thousand landed at Marsala, who were those who sought to liberate and unify Italy. After the Battle of Calatafimi, Pozzallo sided with the Garibaldians.
Cabrera Tower served as an anti-aircraft battery during the two World Wars. During World War II, Pozzallo was bombed 27 times. Despite being the actual target of the bombings, the Cabrera Tower never suffered serious damage.
What to See in Pozzallo
Cabrera Tower is Pozzallo’s main attraction. In addition to this, we will explore the other attractions in Pozzallo during a Sicilian vacation.
The history of Cabrera Tower
The construction of Cabrera Tower aimed to defend the goods warehouses situated along the coast. The tower is located in Piazza Madonnina, on Pozzallo’s seafront, adjacent to Black Stones beach. Cabrera Tower in Pozzallo dates back to the early 15th century. Merchants and sailors already recognized the location for its freshwater springs, which appeared on nautical charts as a ship’s water provisioning site. The Chiaramonte lords, counts of Modica, constructed their warehouses there to load goods onto ships.
The warehouse area became vital for all of Sicily. Soon, it became necessary to build defensive structures there. At the beginning of the 15th century, Count Giovanni Bernardo Cabrera, lord of the County of Modica, obtained permission from Alfonso V of Aragon to build a defense tower. Initially, it was formed into a fortified castle to protect the goods warehouses of Pozzallo.
The fortified tower
Only later did the building transform from a residential castle for the count into a watchtower, with the addition of stairs and buttresses, modification of the large external openings, and adaptation of the interior spaces for military use. From the 16th century, Cabrera Tower served a dual purpose: defensive and commercial. The building was used to spot pirate ships that threatened the warehouses, where all the grain of the County of Modica was stored and where it was shipped to the entire Mediterranean area.
The earthquake damage
Cabrera Tower in Pozzallo suffered severe damage from the earthquake on January 11, 1693. Reconstruction began immediately, especially for the vaults of the interior spaces. Historical documents indicate that the project involved the construction of six cross vaults, one for each damaged room.
The project adhered to the original construction model of the vaults from the early 15th century. They constructed them using flat bricks for the sails and cut stone for the ribs. This was a non-local technique, evidencing a direct connection with the Aragonese kingdom’s construction sites.
Description of Cabrera Tower
Equipped with cannons and protected by soldiers and gunners, Cabrera Tower in Pozzallo also served as a prison. A specific room, still visible today, served as the execution site for the prisoners, most of whom were Saracens. It was an open space overlooking the rocks at the base. The chained convicts died of drowning during high tide.
Cabrera Tower reflects the dual role it has played over the centuries. It features the structure of a residential castle for the count, but it is also a commercial structure. The tower has warehouses and cisterns on the first floor. The tower’s upper floors house spacious and beautifully decorated residential spaces.
Interiors and exteriors
The tower spans three levels and has a square layout. It features a large terrace, lacking the original battlements. The exterior is austere and simple. The most imposing element is the 16th-century bastion that extends into the sea.
The interior features high cross vaults covering all the tower’s rooms. Some of the residential rooms’ keystones display heraldic emblems with the goat, a symbol of the noble Catalan Cabrera family. Other emblems feature both the Cabrera goat and the Prades family’s fleurs-de-lis. A vault on the second floor depicts the face of a man wearing a sailors’s hat. This artwork is significant because it was the first to show a sailor without resorting to caricature. A spiral staircase leads to the upper terrace. Until 1715, one of the rooms served as a chapel, dedicated to St. Mary of Mercy. Its fresco by an unknown author is still visible.
Discoveries made during restorations
During the most recent restoration works in 2000, several structures from the original 15th-century building were revealed. Thus, the workers found many original elements of the tower, such as mullioned windows, an internal staircase, and the decorative elements “azulejos heraldicos.” These are beautiful blue enameled tiles with the emblems of noble families, almost certainly of Spanish origin.
To stabilize the Cabrera Tower after an earthquake in 1542, stairs and windows were bricked up, hiding many of the new discoveries.
Cabrera Tower: visit information
Generally, the Cabrera Tower in Pozzallo remains closed. During the summer, the municipal administration may open the building for visits and events. For more information, contact the Culture Office of the Municipality of Pozzallo.
Promenade walks
Take a leisurely stroll along the Seafront Black Stones, the town’s scenic promenade, and soak in the picturesque views of the Mediterranean Sea, especially during sunset.
The beautiful beaches, such as Raganzino Beach and Black Stones Beach, with clear waters and golden sand, make Pozzallo a famous seaside resort. These beaches are perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and enjoying various water sports. There are numerous restaurants in Pozzallo where you can enjoy a variety of fish dishes.
Church of Our Lady of the Rosary
The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary is located in San Pietro Square and dates back to the last decades of the 19th century. The final works extended until 1937. The building features a neoclassical style and a Latin cross plan. The interiors house numerous statues and paintings, such as the statue of the Our Lady of the Rosary, dating back to the late 19th century.
The Sanctuary of Holy Mary of Portosalvo is located next to Cabrera Tower and dates back to 1746. The first sailors and fishermen who settled in Pozzallo constructed the building. It is the oldest place of worship in the town. It features two facades: the original one in neoclassical style and the more modern one added after World War II.
The most important work inside is the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows by Neapolitan sculptor Francesco Verzella. The Campanian merchant Vincenzo Falanca, who escaped a shipwreck thanks to landing near the church, donated the statue in 1822.
Giorgio La Pira Municipal Building
The Giorgio La Pira Building dates back to the 1920s. The building features the Art Nouveau style and has been the town hall’s seat since 1928. It overlooks Municipio Square and along Vittorio Veneto Street. The interiors feature marvelous frescoes and stucco. The Municipal Villa, Pozzallo’s public park, surrounds the building on three sides.
Villa Tedeschi
Villa Tedeschi, or Villa dello Scaro, takes its name from the neighborhood in which it is located. The building is in neoclassical style and dates back to the 19th century. It was originally the commercial house of the first Marquis of Scaro.
Later owned by Giorgio Polara Lorefice, the villa took its current name because he married the noblewoman Domenica Tedeschi Impellizzeri. The owning couple adorned the house with decorations, transforming the commercial house into a splendid villa. Today, it houses the Municipal Library.
Palaces and castles
Giunta-Musso Palace dates back to 1845 and was the seat of the town hall before becoming private property. It represents one of the best examples of an Art Nouveau palace in Pozzallo. Giunta Palace dates back to the 19th century and is located in Piazza delle Rimembranze. Pandolfi Palace dates back to 1868. The Sicilian writer Vitaliano Brancati lived there for several years.
The Martino Castle lies in a state of abandonment on the upper part of the Raganzino cliff, opposite the port. The construction of the live stone castle began in 1930 at the behest of the Di Martino family. However, the construction of the castle never finished. Along the path to the castle, you can see two niches. According to local legend, they are the marks of Saint Paul’s knees. During his return journey from Malta, he stopped here to pray and thank God after a difficult sea crossing.
Bellamagna Necropolis
The Bellamagna Necropolis is located near Pozzallo. It stands on a limestone hill near an alluvial plain, where there was a village of huts during the early Bronze Age. Findings of ceramics and the necropolis with artificial cave tombs testify to the presence of the ancient village.
The necropolis, therefore, belongs to the Castelluccio culture, widespread in Sicily from 2200 to 1450 BC. It consists of 87 artificial cave tombs, circular or subcircular in plan. Some feature interior niches, while others remain incomplete. Nine small hypogeas and about thirty pit tombs indicate that the Bellamagna Necropolis was active even in late antiquity.
Pozzallo, Sicily, Gallery
Video Pozzallo
Pozzallo weather
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Tourist Information Offices in Pozzallo
Info Point: Tourist Office Municipality of Pozzallo, Vittorio Veneto Street. Contacts Phone: +39 0932 183 9270
