Tonnarella Destination in Sicily · Province of Messina

Tonnarella is a seaside village in the municipality of Furnari, on the north coast of the province of Messina along the Gulf of Patti. It has a gently sloping beach of sandy gravel on the Tyrrhenian Sea, a view of the Aeolian Islands and the Portorosa marina right next door.

The beach at Tonnarella

The shore is sandy gravel, and the seabed drops off slowly, so you can wade out a fair distance before the water gets deep. The Portorosa marina splits the beach into two sections. Each side has bathing establishments with sunbeds and parasols, with free stretches in between where anyone can lay down a towel.

The Aeolian Islands sit on the horizon. Looking east, the coastline runs out to Capo di Milazzo; looking west, to Capo Tindari and its pilgrimage sanctuary. The Gulf of Patti is the bay between these two headlands.

A tuna station, a canal marina and a 14th-century town

• The village takes its name from an old tuna-fishing station, a tonnara, that stood near the Torre dei Saraceni. Neither the tonnara nor the tower survives.
• Portorosa is a vacation and residential complex built around navigable canals and boat moorings. The architect Giulio Minoletti designed it.
• Furnari, the municipality Tonnarella belongs to, was founded in the late 14th century under the Genoese nobleman Filippo Furnari. Its churches hold works of art, among them pieces by Polidoro da Caravaggio.

Furnari has about 4,200 residents (as of 2026). For a long time the local economy ran on olives, wine, citrus fruit and fishing. Tourism is now its main source of income.

Quiet months and a busy August

Outside the summer season Tonnarella is a quiet place. August is much livelier, with visitors arriving from many countries. On the second Sunday of August the village celebrates the feast of the Madonna Santissima di Trapani, with a procession that sets off at sunset and continues into the neighboring villages. Shops for everyday needs are a few minutes away.

Climate and swimming season

Long-term averages for Sicily's north coast are measured near Palermo. Tonnarella lies farther east on the same coast, so the figures are a useful guide.

• May: daytime highs around 23 °C (73 °F), sea about 19.5 °C (67 °F).
• June: around 27 °C (81 °F) on land, about 24 °C (76 °F) in the water.
• July and August: around 30 °C (86 °F), with the sea at 27 to 28 °C (81 to 82 °F).
• September: around 27 °C (80 °F) on land, about 26 °C (79 °F) in the sea.
• October: around 23 °C (74 °F), with the sea about as warm as the air.

June and September combine warm water with a calmer village than in August.

Getting to the Aeolian Islands

The islands you see from the beach can be reached by hydrofoil and ferry from Milazzo or from Portorosa, so Tonnarella is a practical base for day trips out to them. Timetables change with the season, and the shipping companies publish the current departure times.

Who Tonnarella suits

The gradual entry into the water works well for anyone who prefers not to step straight into deep water. Boaters have moorings and canals at Portorosa, right on the beach. Visitors planning to see the Aeolian Islands or Capo Tindari have both in view and are close to the ports.