Isab - Erg: Nature, Industrial History and Sicilian Cuisine

Between Wetlands and Industrial History

Isab - Erg takes you to an area where the Saline di Priolo, the Magnisi Peninsula, the ISAB facilities and the cultural sites in the municipality of Melilli showcase different sides of Sicily. Nature observation is just as central here as industrial history, archaeological traces and traditional cuisine. When choosing your hotel for Isab - Erg, you can therefore consider whether you would like to focus your trip on landscapes, history or regional specialities.

Saline di Priolo and the Magnisi Peninsula

In the immediate surroundings of Isab - Erg, the Saline di Priolo nature reserve protects the last remaining section of a larger wetland that once stretched along the coast between Priolo and Marina di Melilli. A total of 245 bird species have been observed in the salt pans; 80 percent of them are wholly or partly migratory birds. Together with the Magnisi Peninsula, more than half of the bird species observed in Sicily and around 40 percent of those observed in Italy to date have been recorded there.

For guided visits to the Saline di Priolo, booking at least one week in advance is required in the immediate surroundings of Isab - Erg; groups are limited to a maximum of 20 people. From Syracuse, the route follows the SP 55. Follow the signs for Saline di Priolo, Magnisi Peninsula and Thapsos, then continue along the coast to the entrance of the nature reserve. More than 400 metres of paths for people with disabilities and five observation hides were also planned for the salt pans, two of which were to extend into the wetland.

Nature, History and Archaeological Sites

A project connects the natural and archaeological attractions of the Magnisi Peninsula with its steppe landscape and history, as well as the Guglia di Marcello. All of them belong to the Natura 2000 site ITA090013. In the municipality of Melilli, the Grotta Palombara is a fully protected nature reserve. It was established in 1998 and extends for approximately 800 metres.

ISAB and Industrial Development

ISAB’s southern refinery facilities were established in 1972 under the original name ISAB, an abbreviation of Industria Siciliana Asfalti e Bitumi, and began operating in 1975. The northern facilities were established in the mid-1950s under the original name SINCAT, Società Industriale Catanese, and began operating around 1960. After the ERG Group took over the northern facilities and the tank farm in 2002, the ERG Raffinerie Mediterranee refinery complex was created together with the southern facilities.

In 1993, ERG and EDISON MISSION ENERGY founded the company ISAB Energy. Its aim was to build an IGCC plant for the gasification of refinery residues and combined heat and power generation. It is considered Europe’s first plant using this process.

Stone, Religious Buildings and Ancient Traces

In the municipality of Melilli, the Pirrera Sant’Antonio is a quarry with a maximum height of 27 metres and an average height of 20 metres. The extraction of limestone blocks there can be traced back to 1450. The limestone was used for the Torre and Castello di Melilli, as well as for buildings and churches after the 1693 earthquake.

The Basilica di San Sebastiano was built in the municipality of Melilli in the second half of the 18th century. The Chiesa Madre is dedicated to San Nicolò and was rebuilt in the 18th century on the remains of an existing 13th-century church. The archaeological site of Megara Hyblea is also located near Melilli, the site of an ancient Greek polis founded in 729 BC.

Marina di Melilli and Cudduruni

Marina di Melilli was a fishing village on the Gulf of Targia, opposite the Thapsos Peninsula. The village was razed to the ground. A culinary speciality from the municipality of Melilli is Cudduruni a miliddisa: a homemade focaccia made from durum wheat semolina with anchovies in oil, onions, oregano and sun-dried tomatoes. Local Caciocavallo is sometimes added. Cudduruni originated as a rustic focaccia prepared by farmers for important occasions.

Further destinations for individual orientation: Pachino, Augusta, Fanusa, Agnone, Carlentini, Calabernardo, Ferla, Solarino

For the broader travel overview: Syracuse.