White beaches and a crystal-clear sea frame a fishing village that over time has become one of the most elegant places in Sicily, but without ever losing its original charm and magic. Marzamemi, a hamlet of the municipality of Pachino, remains inextricably linked to its ‘tonnare’ (tuna fishing nets), historical evidence of the importance that tuna fishing has always held for the village's economy. Even today, despite the fact that typical bars and restaurants populate the white stone piazza Regina Margherita, the small artisanal tuna and swordfish processing industries represent strong economic activities. And even today it is still possible to taste the traditional local foods, such as botargo and bluefin tuna ventresca, as well as the Pachino tomato and Nero d'Avola, among the most famous and appreciated Sicilian red wines in the world. But this small village in eastern Sicily is also a place of mysteries and legends dating back to Arab domination, which has profoundly marked this little hamlet, starting with its name. Marzamemi derives from the Arabic “Marsà al hamen”, or “Tortore’s Roadstead”, a name chosen precisely because of the dense presence of the birds during the migratory season. One of the local legends is the one linked to Calafarina, a beautiful sea cave between Marzamemi and Portopalo di Capo Passero, which has its roots in the 11th century, at the time of the end of Arab domination. According to the story, the widow of the Arab emir, who fell in battle against the Normans, tried to reach the port of the Sicilian village to flee to Egypt, accompanied by her son and a caravan laden with treasures. Frightened by the idea that her riches would fall into the hands of pirates during the long voyage to North Africa, the noblewoman decided to hide them, having them buried inside the cave by her slaves. Not trusting them either, however, the emir's wife had their throats slit so that they could not reveal the location of the treasures to anyone. Remaining faithful to their mistress even after they were killed, the souls of the slaves trapped in the cave still watch over the hidden treasures, calling out the name of the person who will be able to free them, and it is said that on February nights one can hear their wails. The one guarded by the Arab slaves is not the only treasure hidden in the Grotto since the time of the Arab rule. According to tradition, in fact, a Moorish castle stood above the Grotto, where the Byzantine princess Zoraide, guardian of immense wealth, lived. When she died in battle, she threw an enchanted ring into the sea, which was eaten by a fish, thus rendering it immortal. Only he who catches that fish can find Zoraide's treasure.
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