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Visit Oliveri
In the 19th and early 20th century all economic activity in Oliveri was based on fishing - today, however, the town is essentially known as a seaside and landscape tourist destination.
Oliveri was originally the name of both of the castle and the hamlet (which was no doubt built around the castle), situated on a low hill not far from the beach of the Tyrrhenian Sea, dominated by the promontory of Tindari.
During the Arab period Tindari was in serious decline so the inhabitants moved to the area of "Olivere", particularly fertile and rich in olive groves. Idrisi, an Arabic geographer writing during the realm of King Roger the I, tells us that there was a “castle”, a market for trading local products, a harbour and a tunny-fishing area, and a bath that is evidence of the high social-life. Nowadays, we have just scanty remains of these structures.
The fortress is presumed to be of Arab-Norman origin, built to control the coastal areas and to defend the Oliveri fishing fleet, already in full swing at the time of Roger II. (According to F. Maurici, coastal castles like that of Oliveri did not express fear of external invasions. In fact, these castles, built or strengthened in the Norman period, simply expressed the power obtained by the Norman Altavilla, who, through a close network of castles, controlled the territory) - as Al Idrisi wrote, Oliveri was a beautiful and spacious hamlet, with its seaside castle
The Old Town of Oliveri is around "Piazza Dante", with its parish church dedicated to St. Joseph. It’s no doubt that the attraction of Olivieri follows the shores of “Marinello", a bay with easy access.
The impoverishment of the sea meant the town needed to turn to tourism, and Oliveri now offers many hotels, pensions, residences, restaurants and campsites. The fishing area has also become a tourist complex, where craftsmen are dedicated to building boats and processing agricultural and fish products.
In and around Oliveri
The natural beauties of Oliveri are concentrated along the coast. The 'Lido di Marinella' between Tindari and Capo Milazzo is part of the reserve 'Lakes of Marinello', recently established and characterized by their natural environments, which together with Lake Ganzirri are an example of a salty coastal environment of north-eastern Sicily. In addition, the lakes are an ideal habitat for the nesting of several species, including the kestrel, raven, the rare peregrine falcon, and the herring gull.
Finally, we note also that the area of Oliveri is one of the the most significant historical, artistic and cultural areas of Sicily, with the "Villa Romana" in Patti, the ancient Tyndaris with its vast archaeological area and the shrine of the Black Virgin. The sanctuary of Oliveri, which stands a few kilometers to the east and the Marinello lakes form a unique system that really is worthy of a visit, while the local fresh seafood in the hot Sicilian summer will offer a perfect refreshment.
See also Oliveri history and etymology.
See the the sicily travel guide for more places to visit in the same region as Oliveri.