Marina di Ragusa
Marina di Ragusa, formerly called Mazzarelli that comes from the Arabic "Marsa A'Rillah" (meaning small port), was a small fishing village.
There was an old harbour where today there is Piazza della Dogana, in fact here you can still recognize a small harbour used for small boats. Next to it, the Cabrera Tower was built for defensive purposes at the end of 1500, and a few decades later the first houses were built.
In 1928, by the will of the fascist hierarch Pennavaria, the name became the current Marina di Ragusa and from the '50 onwards it becomes a summer holiday destination, first frequented by the locals, nowadays known also by foreigners.
It is a modern seaside destination, offering both relax and fun.
It boasts a long wide sandy beach, mostly free and in some parts private. It was awarded with the blue flag by the Fee "Foundation for Environmental Education" which evaluate the quality of the coast, water, services, safety measures and environmental education.
Marina is full of shops, restaurants of various types, bars, chalets on the beach, clubs where you can enjoy a good aperitif and a refreshing cocktail in the evening. You can take a relaxing walk along the two seafronts: Andrea Doria seafront and Mediterraneo seafront. In the evening, the main square Duca degli Abruzzi and Via Tindari are frequented by a lot of people, from mid age to young.
The new harbour is also well frequented; it was designed at the end of the eighties and it is situated in the old "port of Trapani". It offers many services, from restaurants, shops to nightclubs; you can book boat excursions, rent rafts or pedal boats, practice water sports, etc.. In the evening it becomes a magical and evocative place with all the blue lights of the boats reflecting on the sky and on the water.
In Marina a lot of events take place, the most important is "wood at sea" (u lignu Änzivatu) organised by Santa Maria di Portosalvo Church and celebrated on the 15th of August. The players compete to reach and catch a flag placed at the end of a 8 meters lond pole placed horizontally on a fishing boat and greased with fat animal.
The winner gets a prize in money and a Cup. In the afternoon there is a long procession in the sea: The simulacrum of Our Lady of Porto Salvo is placed on a boat that, followed by other boats, runs most of the coastline. You can not miss fireworks and musical performances in Piazza Duca degli Abruzzi.
