Vendicari’s Natural Wildlife Oasis Reserve

Vendicari’s Natural Wildlife Oasis Reserve is situated in the province of Syracuse between Noto and Marzamemi. Particularly important for its wetlands that act as a stopover for the migration of birds. It was officially established in 1984 when 1450 hectares of territory were declared a “wetland of international importance”.

On the inside of the reserve there are several archaeological and architectural settlements that bear witness to the life of man in these places since the Greek epoch. There are traces of ancient tank deposits used for fish processing in the Hellenistic age, alongside which a small necropolis has also been discovered.

In the Byzantine period (until the 6th century A.D), the southern region was discovered to be inhabited along with the presence of a church, several Catacombs and housing. The coastal danger eventually led the inhabitants to abandon the area for inland sites like Pantalica.

Tuna-fishing of Vendicari

Pantano di Vendicari

Una fornace di Vendicari

The Swabian Tower, probably built by Peter of Aragon who was Count of Alburquerque and duke of Notot (1406-1438), as well as being the brother of Alfonso V of Aragon, King of Spain and Sicily (1416-1458). This testifies to the strategic importance in defending the coastal area. Not far away there is the tuna factory of Vendicari, where there is a disintegrating building, chimney still intact, and several other establishments along with the houses of the fishermen. The tuna processing house was built in the eighteenth century and had a maximum of 40 employees in its heyday. Its activity ceased in 1943.

The saltpans of Vendicari had economic importance for a long time, especially supported by the tuna factory as salt was necessary for the preservation of the fish. The first saltpans date back to the fifteenth century and nowadays there remain traces on the Pantano Grande.

A Pantano seen from a location for birdwatching

Flamingos of Vendicar

The narrow-gauge railway line Syracuse – Bivio, Giarratana – Ragusa – Vizzini, began in 1915. It ran through the Valley of the Anapo and was a popular trail due to its stop at the most important necropolis of Pantalica. It was closed and dismantled in 1956 leaving a white path for visitors to follow.

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