Discover Tindari: Ancient History, Lagoon and Trails

Tindari combines ancient history, an unusual lagoon landscape and trails between the sanctuary and nature. If you would like to experience Sicily through cultural impressions and outdoor excursions, the town offers various points of interest: from the archaeological site to the brackish lakes of Marinello and the beaches in the surrounding area.

Ancient History and Theatre

The archaeological site of Tindari preserves the remains of an ancient Greek-Roman city. Dionysius of Syracuse founded it in 397–396 BC as a fortress and military outpost. This makes Tindari tangible as a historic site whose ancient past significantly shapes the visit.

The Greek-Roman theatre of Tindari was built towards the end of the 4th century BC and was remodelled for games during the Roman era. The seating rows of the cavea were carved into the hillside; the theatre was designed for around 3,000 spectators. In summer, the ancient theatre was also the venue for cultural events, theatre performances and concerts of the Tindari Festival.

Several other historic destinations are located in the immediate vicinity of Tindari. The cultural surroundings include the Parco Archeologico delle Eolie as a museum, the Visita Virtuale Teatro Greco as a historic site and the Tindari Greek Theatre as an ancient site. The ancient site Roman Villa is also located in the area around Tindari.

The Laghetti di Marinello below the sanctuary

Below the Sanctuary of Tindari lies the Laghetti di Marinello nature reserve. It comprises a lagoon area where morphological changes to the coast have created brackish lakes. Their number varies depending on the season and the tides. This changing character makes the natural area a subject in its own right alongside the ancient sites.

Hiking Trails, Pilgrimage and Sanctuary

The panoramic Coda di Volpe hiking trail begins on Via Monsignor Pullano and connects the Marinello Lagoon with the Sanctuary of Tindari. The pilgrimage to the Black Madonna of Tindari is a religious route that combines faith, art and nature.

A black statue of the Virgin Mary, known as the Black Madonna, is displayed in the Sanctuary of Tindari. Together with the religious route, it forms a cultural point of reference for visitors who wish to discover Tindari not only through the history of its ancient city.

Beaches in the Surrounding Area

The beaches in the immediate vicinity of Tindari include Spiaggia di Oliveri, Spiaggia di Falcone and Spiaggia di Siena. The beach Spiaggia di Tonnarella is also located in the area around Tindari. In this way, the coast complements the options ranging from archaeological visits to natural areas and trails.

More Destinations for Planning Your Trip

If you would like to compare Tindari with other destinations from the same selection for your trip, you can find Rometta, Torregrotta, Sorrentini, Naso, Pollara, Graniti, Calvaruso and San Pier Niceto here.

To the higher-level trip overview: Messina.