The 14 unmissable Sicilian tuna nets: a journey through history and the sea

The Sicilian Tuna Nets tell a fascinating chapter of the island’s culture and traditions, linked to tuna fishing, an activity that dates back to distant times and deeply influenced the economic and social life of the Sicilian coastline. These buildings, which often date back to medieval or even Arab times, were designed for the ‘mattanza’, the traditional catching of tuna using fixed nets and chambers that led them to a large final space called the ‘death chamber’. Today, many of these tuna nets, now no longer in use, have become tourist attractions offering a trip back in time. Together, we discover 7 of the most interesting tonnare in Sicily, with tips on where to eat, where to stay and what to see in the area.