Museum of the Tonnara in Valderice

Valderice, in the Free Municipal Consortium of Trapani, is located in north-western Sicily, just 8 km from Trapani: here, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Watchtower of the Tonnara of Bonagia becomes Museum in Valderice, a point of reference for all those who wish to learn more about the history of tuna fishing in Sicily.

The Valderice Museum was inaugurated in April 2018, born from the project of the "Salviamo le Tonnare" Association which transforms the ancient Norman building into a real exhibition space, to tell the long story of one of the most important activities of the 'island.

The Tower, built in 1500 and owned by the Royal Court of Naples, was destroyed by pirates about a century later, while today it is proud to host, under the direction of the entrepreneur Nino Castiglione, instruments, boats and miniature reproductions of the Tonnara, to show visitors the whole history of tuna fishing.

Looking to the future, the association intends to restructure and re-evaluate the many tuna traps abandoned on the island, to preserve the memory and evidence of an ancient and important Sicilian activity.

The architecture of the Tonnara di Bonagia and what is on display there

The Tonnara di Bonagia becomes a Museum in Valderice and welcomes visitors in the original structure of the Tonnara: the sighting tower dating back to the Norman era, located in the small port of Bonagia overlooking the sea, it is the seat of the Museum and is annexed to a larger XNUMXth century building, which is organized around an internal courtyard.

Visiting the Fishing Museum, you will be able to discover the oldest tools used in the slaughter of tuna, such as the old fishing nets, but also to observe closely the boats that the fishermen used: the muciare, completely restructured and enhanced in the exhibition space. Furthermore, to better understand how tuna were caught and stored, a scale model of theancient tuna fishery, in which the so-called "death chamber" is also reproduced, i.e. the space in which the caught tuna were crammed.

What to do in the Tonnara Museum in Valderice and in the surrounding area

The Fishing Museum is located inside the Tonnara di Bonagia, which becomes a Museum in Valderice and is part of a large project to enhance the area: there is also a rich accommodation complex on site, which can now offer guests a new point of cultural attraction.
Those who come to visit Valderice can stay on site and at the same time immediately start their discovery of the island: through the history of the Tonnara, one becomes aware of an important aspect of island life. The Museum is also interesting for children and teenagers and of course for all fishing enthusiasts.

Goodness is one of Valderice beaches, a hilly village surrounded by greenery, with privileged access to the sea through its three beaches, in addition to that of Bonagia, in fact, there are also the beach of Cortigliolo and the beach of Rio Forgia. The sea is naturally beautiful, just as you would expect from Sicilian waters and spending pleasant hours in the sun will always be possible during your holiday, but Valderice can also offer you other artistic and cultural attractions, for a relaxing and at the same time surprising stay.

You can start with a walk in the historic center, where you will find the Mother Church of Christ the King, modern religious building built in the fifties and reach the Church of Sant'Andrea Apostolo, an ancient religious building from the XNUMXth century, just outside the town; among the civil buildings, you will find a splendid early twentieth-century factory, the Excelsior mill of Valderice, where the cereals were ground, to learn about the ancient traditions of the land, as well as those of the sea, which you will find at the Fishing Museum. In the village there are also many noble villas, now given a new life.

Western Sicily is full of enchanting landscapes, ancient villages to discover and large cities with a fascinating history: from the Tower of Bonagia, you can reach Trapani, just 8 km away or visit the Temple of Segesta by heading inland.

Trapani is an important coastal center, historically linked to the slaughter of tuna, in fact fishing has been and remains one of the most flourishing activities in the city; rich in monuments, it welcomes you with squares, churches and palaces to discover, such as the delightful pedestrian area of ​​Piazza Ciullo or the elegant Piazza Garibaldi, overlooked by numerous historic buildings and is one of the meeting points in the city.

Among the churches, we point out the Basilica of Maria Santissima Annunziata, an ancient building from the XNUMXth century, while among the civil buildings, do not miss the Villino Nasi, in the port area.

How to get to Valderice

The Tonnara di Bonagia becomes a museum in Valderice and reaching it is not difficult, less than 10 km from Trapani: in the car, can be reached on the A29 Alcamo-Trapani, taking the exit for Trapani and continuing for 8 km towards the centre, while on the train you can get off at Trapani Station and continue by bus or shuttle.