Plemmirio Marine Protected Area
Syracuse, Italy
Just south of Ortigia, this protected swath of the Maddalena Peninsula is an earthly paradise of sea caves, hiking trails, and some of the most beautiful white-sand beaches in eastern Sicily. In protected areas open to the public, you can swim in unspoiled waters and experience the quintessentially wild Sicilian coast.
The basics
The marine area is organized into three zones: Zone A is open only to guided tours, Zone B allows some activities, and Zone C has few restrictions. Although you can access some of the Plemmirio Marine Protected Area via land and sea, only Zone B is open for swimming and diving. Beach access is through numbered gateways running northward from Punta Milocca to Punta Castelluccio.
Boating, snorkeling, and diving tours make visiting the protected area from Syracuse a breeze—but if you’re exploring on your own, you're best to find a beach to post up for the day or hike the Sentiero della Maddalena trail, which traverses the entire peninsula.
Things to know before you go
The Sentiero della Maddalena trail is open to hikers and mountain bikers.
Bring snorkeling gear if you plan to swim—clear waters and marine life abound.
The marine area has 35 access points to the sea; some are equipped with accessible wooden platforms during summer.
How to get there
The marine area lies along the Maddalena Peninsula on the east coast of Sicily, just south of Syracuse. From Syracuse, the drive to a main access point at Capo Murro di Porco is about 9 miles (15 kilometers) along the SS115, SP58, and Strada Capo Murro di Porci. You can also take the AST bus 23 from Syracuse to Plemmirio.
When to get there
Like all of Sicily, Siracusa has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters. For sunny skies and the best beach weather, visit between June and September—May, June, and October are warm without the sweltering summer heat. The Sicilian diving season is almost year-round, though the marine reserve becomes quite busy between May and October, with as many as 150 daily divers.
Hiking the Sentiero della Maddalena Trail
The Sentiero della Maddalena Trail is a 6-mile (10-kilometer) trail from Punta Castelluccio to the Capo Murro di Porco lighthouse and Punta Milocca—it’s one the best ways to explore the Plemmirio Marine Protected Area by land. Start the trail at Punta Castelluccio, hike or bike along the coast, and veer off at beach access points to take dips in the sea.
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