FORTY-TWO PORTS TO DISCOVER THE ISLAND’S HEART Department of Tourism, Sport and Entertainment Regione Siciliana District Council for Tourism, Communication and Transport Department of Tourism, Sport and Entertainment District Councillor: Fabio Granata Director General: Agostino Porretto Service V - “Tourist port affairs”: Maria Concetta Antinoro (Director) U.O.B. V.1 - “Analyses and studies of tourist routes” Lucia Fazio (U.O.B. Director) Lorenzo La Mantia (Senior Management Team) Daniele Licciardello (Senior Management Team) Service I - “Marketing Communication and Reception Office” Pietro Di Miceli (Director) Coordination and Graphic Design: Maria Concetta Antinoro Text: Maria Concetta Antinoro, Daniele Licciardello Port Information: “Studio tecnico di rilievo delle infrastrutture per la nautica da diporto della Regione Siciliana” ©, Studio Mallandrino, 21 November 2000, Property of the Region of Sicily “Studio economico finanziario sul comparto della nautica da diporto” ©, Prof. Giuseppe Loy Puddu, Palermo 2001, Property of the Region of Sicily Harbour plan revision and port information update: “Pagine azzurre. Il portolano dei mari d’Italia” © Guida internazionale al diporto nautico Year XIX – 2003 edition Photography: Department of Tourism, Sport and Entertainment; Town Planning Department - Cartography and Information Office - Service II; AAPIT Catania, Palermo, Siracusa, Trapani; AAST Capo d’Orlando, Catania-Acicastello, Giardini Naxos, Messina, Milazzo, Patti; Marina di Portorosa s.r.l.; Marina di Riposto s.p.a.; Mec Auto s.n.c. Catania. Printing: Eurografica s.r.l. Palermo April 2005 This publication is a considered selection taken from “Sicily: Pleasure Boater’s Guide. Ports and Itineraries”, Department of Tourism, Sport and Entertainment, Palermo 2004. Reproduction of this publication, in full or in part, is forbidden without prior permission. A FOREWORD The island of Sicily today finds itself facing a formidable challenge presented by the various sectors of the tourism industry: as is true of tourism around the world, the industry’s boundaries are not yet clearly defined, the business moves extremely fast and its developments are not always foreseeable. The construction of an adequate pleasure-boating infrastructure, connected with the resources on offer further inland, is of great strategic importance. For the island’s economy and tourist industry to develop in the most fruitful way, this strategy must take account of the island’s central position in the Mediterranean as a sort of reference point for commercial and recreational sailing routes. Nautical tourism, just like the other sectors, is having to face significant challenges connected with offering facilities as part of a sustainable development programme, and at the same time compete with port development programmes in nearby countries, where coastlines are being equipped with a large number of mooring spots at competitive prices. Sicily, however, has unequalled appeal in the Mediterranean and can therefore legitimately aspire to being the nautical capital of this sea: 1,500 kilometres of coastline acting as a gateway to a mainland which boasts thousands of years of history, stunning landscapes, national heritage, unspoilt natural environments, archaeological sites and monuments. These attractions constitute the added value that will attract customers in this particular tourism sector. The department which I direct is today bringing to completion the various bidding stages necessary to construct a large number of new tourist ports, and to expand and equip existing ports so as to render them functional and aesthetically pleasing. The aim is to be able provide efficient services, both on the quay and on dry land, together with the infrastructure necessary for travel inland. In this sense, the tourist port must be considered as the first point of contact for the cultural and environmental attractions present in the area, with services and information aimed at helping tourists familiarise themselves with the region visited. The newly designed ports together with existing ports form a network which has been designed with great care: upon completion it will be possible to sail around Sicily and, if desired, put in at landing spots strategically spaced at intervals of 30 nautical miles. This will open up new possibilities for nautical tourism in small boats and, at the same time, accommodate the largest yachts with the highest degree of safety. The great national and international sailing events which are due to take place in Sicily in 2005 and the following years, such as the national offshore racing championships, the Bailli de Suffren trophy, and above all the America’s Cup, will trigger a significant increase in pleasure-boating activity. Sicily will not be caught unprepared by the new mooring requests and the demand for cultural tourism associated with great events. The Sicilian sea is today set to win back its role as an economic leader, in part as a result of the new possibilities that will be offered to pleasure boaters. The year 2005 is going to be a turning point for tourism in Sicily: it will be the year of the cultural tour, following the tracks of great travellers of centuries gone by on their “grand tours”; there is going to be an extraordinary series of initiatives and shows, which will promote Sicily in the eyes of the world as a welcoming and diverse destination, sure to entice and enchant. Modern travellers will be able to immerge themselves in the island’s history, traditions, cuisine, wines and culture. Fabio Granata District Councillor 2 INTRODUCTION Putting to sea is not merely to enjoy the deep blue or the most immense silence; very often it is, however, spirit of adventure and curiosity to discover the unknown which push us beyond the “Pillars of Hercules”. In fact, it was this inner need, the “sailor in every one of us”, that convinced us to produce this helpful guide for the sea-bound tourist. Easy access to information about a port, about the most secluded ravines along a coastline, or about the most exclusive beaches, can without a doubt be said to be one of the strong points of the Sicilian sea “tourist product”. We wanted to go a step further than this by adding a complimentary horizon of discovery: explore Sicily’s remarkable landscapes by sea, but also go inland, cross the mountains and discover the dreamscape that the mythical island of Sicily has to offer its visitors. Discover the myth, marvel at the majesty of Sicily’s giant, Etna, travel through the lesser known valleys, touch the evidence of its history, the traces of the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Arabs, the Normans and all the other civilizations who found a good reason, or perhaps an “excuse”, to stay on the “Island of the Sun”, more often than not claiming to have lost their bearings. These thoughts have taken concrete form in “Sicily: Pleasure Boater’s Guide. Ports and Itineraries”, of which this publication presents a carefully considered selection. In this volume the reader can find technical port information depicted in the form of harbour plans, listings of pleasure boating services, useful port information, and a collection of useful addresses for pleasure boaters. Those seeking a more comprehensive approach to the region are invited to consult the “Pleasure Boater’s Guide …” referred to above. Here the reader will find information on all the services necessary for a comfortable stay, together with a description of the local hospitality in each destination. Also included are details of the DOC wine-producing areas, itineraries and nature trails, and information on events taking place on the island, not to mention lots of general information about the region to ensure you enjoy the best of the Sicilian tourist product. This guide invites the pleasure boater to see the Island’s port network as much more than somewhere to moor. Instead, the port is as an opportunity, or a base, from which to discover Sicily. The “tools” which we provide today will therefore prove most helpful to pleasure boaters who see Sicily not only as a destination for brief holidays or for their particular stay, but also as part of the bigger picture of the Mediterranean tourist system. For all the above reasons, the “Guide” plays an important promotional role, not only for those areas of Sicily which look onto the sea, but also for the inland areas of the island, which have all too often been overlooked by the tourist circuit. These areas are finally being re-evaluated on account of the beauty of their landscapes and the authenticity of the culture they express. This aspect, we feel, must be highlighted: the tourist is really being offered a different “perspective” on the island of Sicily, because rather than reinforcing the long-standing (and now outmoded) tourist distinction between the coast and inland areas, an integrated approach is proposed, capable of offering the traveller a leisure experience that is also culturally meaningful. In this way, the tourist port becomes a “gateway” into a world of discovery, which is not only that traditionally presented in the best tourist guides, but one which contains a few small “pearls” of local culture that most people never discover. These publications today assume even greater importance, as they are able to make reference to the great sailing events which are due to take place in Sicily in 2005 and in the following years. These will eventually lead up to a great world-class sailing event, namely the America’s Cup 2007. All this will stimulate