Where We Are
Contrada Triona-96018 Pachino-Marzamemi
© Casuzze I Mori Museum – Contrada Triona, Pachino / Marzamemi
Casuzze I Mori Museum
Tourist rental – Activity regulated by Legislative Decree 50/2017 and regional regulations of Sicily
CIN: IT089014C2P9MJM4KC / IT089014C2GIAADMLM · CIR: 19089014C210909 / 19089014C210904
Torre Xibini: the sentinel of the coast
The Sentinel of the Hyblaean Coast
Torre Xibini is one of the oldest and most evocative coastal towers in southeastern Sicily. Its presence is documented as far back as the medieval period, when it was built as a key lookout point within the coastal defense system. Its strategic position, suspended between the sea and the countryside, allowed it to oversee the entire maritime front stretching across Marzamemi, Portopalo, and the southeastern Ionian coastline.
Medieval Origins and the Coastal Watch System
The origins of the tower are rooted in the network of Aragonese and Spanish coastal watchtowers, built to protect the island from Barbary pirate raids and enemy fleets. These structures formed a visual chain: each tower was positioned so it could communicate with the next through smoke signals by day and fire signals by night.
Torre Xibini maintained visual contact with the towers of Portopalo, Morghella, and Vendicari, creating a defensive line capable of alerting local populations and garrisons quickly in the event of potential threats.
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Architecture and Structural Features
Although today it appears as a ruin, Torre Xibini once had a solid structure with a square base, built from local limestone and equipped with an elevated platform designed to observe the coastline. The original entrance was likely positioned higher up for defensive purposes, accessed through a removable ladder.
Inside, the tower contained only essential spaces: a small guard room, a storage area for water supplies, and a section used as temporary shelter for the soldiers assigned to coastal surveillance.
From Defense to Rural Life
As the centuries passed and threats from the sea gradually diminished, many coastal towers lost their military purpose. Torre Xibini was slowly absorbed into the agricultural life of the surrounding territory, becoming a visual landmark for farmers, fishermen, and shepherds.
Its silhouette, now familiar to the local inhabitants, became an integral part of the landscape: a point of orientation and a silent presence marking the boundary between land and sea, between past and present.
A Place of Memories and Panoramas
Today, Torre Xibini—though weathered by time—continues to tell stories of defense, watchful eyes, and everyday life. Its privileged position offers one of the most captivating views of the territory: stretches of vineyards, dry-stone walls, the warm Scirocco wind sweeping across the stones, and, in the distance, the sea it once guarded.
Visiting Torre Xibini means embarking on a journey through centuries of Sicilian history, in a place where time seems to stand still and the landscape still speaks with the voice of its ancient sentinels.
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Choose Casuzze I Mori Museum as your base to explore the area: every day you can discover a different corner of Sicily, returning in the evening to a peaceful, well-kept, and welcoming environment.