Tonnara Santa Panagia, Traditional tuna fishing facility in Syracuse, Italy.
The Tonnara Santa Panagia is a traditional tuna fishing facility along Syracuse's coast, made up of stone buildings with processing areas and spaces where fishing boats were moored. The structures now show signs of abandonment, yet their layout still reveals how fishermen organized their work and maintained their vessels by the water.
The facility was founded in the 12th century and operated under the control of Syracuse's Royal Chamber during Spanish rule. It became privately owned in 1655, marking a shift in how it was managed and run.
The facility served as a working community where fishermen and laborers gathered daily to process and trade tuna catches. It reflects how fishing shaped daily life and commerce in Syracuse for centuries.
The site is within walking distance or a short drive from Syracuse's center. Plan to encounter uneven terrain and possible access restrictions since the buildings are currently undergoing restoration work.
The last tuna fishing operations ran between 1965 and 1970, when fishermen continued working to maintain their licenses from the Port Authority. Once these years passed, the site was gradually abandoned and left to decay.
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