{"id":232600,"date":"2025-09-15T13:15:59","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T03:15:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.russh.com\/?p=232600"},"modified":"2025-09-15T13:05:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T03:05:00","slug":"scopello-sicily-travel-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.russh.com\/scopello-sicily-travel-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Postcards from Charli XCX’s Italian wedding destination, Tonnara Di Scopello"},"content":{"rendered":"

Like a large portion of Sydney, I spent a some of my winter in Europe (in my defence, it was a belated honeymoon). Most of the trip was in Sicily \u2014 my husband’s family are from Catania \u2014 but it’s definitely one of my favourite Italian outposts regardless. Sicily is charming, naturally beautiful and varied; I love that there’s so much to experience on such a small island.<\/p>\n

My itinerary was far-reaching, but I did spend a week at Tonnara Di Scopello<\/a>, a 13th century tuna fishing port turned boutique hotel. It turns out I’m not the only fan of this secluded spot \u2013 in fact, it was the setting for none other than Charli XCX’s (second) wedding to The 1975 drummer, George Daniel.<\/a><\/p>\n

It’s notoriously difficult to book (there’s only a handful of apartments<\/a> and they go fast, especially during the high season) but incredibly special. If it’s in your saved folder, the time to start making plans for next Euro summer<\/a> is now. To inspire your own itinerary, I’ve shared my postcards and personal insights from the Sicilian haven below.<\/p>\n

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When to visit Tonnara Di Scopello<\/h3>\n

I’ve been to Scopello in both September and July \u2014 I preferred September as it was quieter and slightly less humid, but any time during the summer will be magic.<\/p>\n

As is the case with the rest of Europe, July and August are the busiest months so you need to be organised ahed of time (this goes for hire cars, boats and restaurants, too).<\/p>\n

The Tonnara apartments<\/a> are open for booking year-round, so if you’re searching for peace and quiet (as opposed to swimming), you should definitely consider the off-season (there’s also the bonus of reduced rates).<\/p>\n

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Views and sunrise<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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How to book Tonnara di Scopello<\/h3>\n

If you want to stay at the Tonnara during the high season, you need to be organised. I got up at 5am the day high season opened up, and even then, the dates I wanted were gone.<\/p>\n

We rearranged our itinerary to make it work. You book directly via the website<\/a> and need to pay 50% upfront. The hotel posts updates on its Instagram<\/a>, but they didn’t open the books on the date that was originally announced, so keep an eye on it. I even found a Reddit thread<\/a> discussing the booking process. At the time I thought it was insane to go to such lengths, but in hindsight it was worth it.<\/p>\n

You also get to choose your apartment<\/a> when booking. I booked the Taverna (Tavernetta) as it had a private terrace, an outdoor kitchen and looked back over the faraglioni from the other side of the beach (you’ll see the view below). It also felt more private as there were only two apartments on our side. The rest were located in the main building. The public section of the beach sat between our apartment and the private beach for guests. It didn’t bother us but something to consider.<\/p>\n

Also, the Tonnara beach is available to the public. You can pay for a chair and spend the day swimming or laying in the sun. If you’re staying in town or just visiting from the day, you can still experience it. For hotel guests however there is a separate private beach \u2014 to me this was the biggest draw, as it affords a secluded feeling away from the crowds.<\/p>\n

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The Faraglioni<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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How to get to Tonnara Di Scopello<\/h3>\n

Scopello is an easy 60 minute drive from Palermo, so you can fly in and book a transfer or hire a car. We actually ferried from Favigana (a nearby island) to Trapani and drove, it was about 45 minutes. You don’t necessarily need a car if you’re staying at the Tonnara (the town is walking distance) but it’s not bad to have. There’s plenty of guest parking, too.<\/p>\n

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The Farangoli at dawn, and our apartment, ‘Tavernetta’<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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My time at the Tonnara<\/h3>\n

Tonnara Di Scopello doesn’t have the refined sense of luxury of a classic hotel (rustic is a word I would use) but it has no shortness of beauty. The water is crystal clear, the views are cinematic and there’s a palpable sense of calm. I do think staying at the Tonnara elevates the Scopello experience in that it’s private and peaceful.<\/p>\n

Set in an old tuna processing plant, the rooms are simple but monastic; each has its own unique design. The service is slow (“Sicilian time”) and pared-back \u2014 it felt like a home more than a hotel. I was worried its Instagram fame might tarnish the experience, but it didn’t at all. It’s not a place to go if you like a jam-packed itinerary, there’s actually not much to do in Scopello. Our days would involve a sleep in, slow breakfast, swim, maybe a nap, aperitivo and finally a late dinner. But in my opinion, that is the perfect vacation.<\/p>\n

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The Taverna and private beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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What to do in Scopello<\/h3>\n

Scopello is a really small village. There’s only a handful of restaurants and shops; it’s more about vacationing at a slow pace. But there are a few things I’d recommend:<\/p>\n