Apartment Contrada Castello di Badia, Castellammare del Golfo

Between stacks and blue sea, the Scopello baglio, near the Zingaro Nature Reserve, hides a delicious surprise. We start from Baglio di Scopello (108 m) which stands on a promontory a few km from Castellammare del Golfo, near the Zingaro Nature Reserve. The view is breathtaking: the stacks soar imposingly to touch the sky, and the nearby tuna fishery, one of the most important and ancient in Sicily, recalls a glorious past of tuna fishing. The current village is made up of a Norman-era beam, a small square with the church, and a few houses. The ancient wood-fired oven, along one of the streets, produces excellent cunzatu bread, a local specialty. It is a fragrant bread that is served warm and seasoned with oil, oregano, fresh tomato, local cheese and anchovies. From Baglio, continue for a short stretch of 600 m towards the summit which houses Torre Bennistra (16th century), which was part of the defensive sighting system of the coastal towers of Sicily. Completely restored in 2015, it can currently be visited. The viewing area offers a splendid panoramic view over the entire Gulf of Scopello, and on clear days it is possible to see the island of Ustica. Behind the Tower stands Monte Sparagio (1110 m), whose forest had been elected a royal hunting reserve by Ferdinand III of Bourbon, because it was home to deer, wolves and wild boars. The itinerary continues for approximately 2.2 km up to Baida Castle, passing the historic center of Visicari. The façade of the castle (dating back to the 15th century) is characterized by a suggestive entrance door with a lowered arch. What remains of the ancient construction are: the curtain wall and the two medieval towers, a quadrangular one and the remains of an octagonal one, testifying to the ancient defensive function of the settlement. In the modern era, part of the medieval structures of the internal courtyard have been transformed into private residential areas, warehouses and stables. The castle is still inhabited today.--d86fb5c7a9f1140b8fc0e95f18586ef0!