Where are Montalbano’s locations in Sicily? Where is Montalbano’s house? And the ‘Mannara’? If you are asking yourself any of these questions, then you are among the millions of fans around the world who have not missed an episode of Inspector Montalbano. To help you create your own itinerary for discovering Montalbano’s locations in Sicily, we have written the most comprehensive guide there is. Montalbano’s locations are scattered across several towns in Sicily, although mainly concentrated in the south of the island between Scicli, Punta Secca, Ragusa Ibla and Modica.
The Inspector Montalbano locations in Ragusa
Piazza Duomo in Ragusa
We begin our tour of Inspector Montalbano’s locations in Sicily from the place that is the main square of Vigata in the series. One of Ragusa Ibla’s most famous sights was used to film the scenes, namely Piazza Duomo. This Montalbano location is located in the heart of Ibla, the oldest part of Ragusa, and is dominated by the façade of the imposing Church of San Giorgio. It is one of the UNESCO-protected buildings in Ragusa and is also one of Ragusa’s two official cathedrals (the other being the Church of San Giovanni Battista). A few minutes’ walk away is chef, Ciccio Sultano’s ‘Duomo‘ restaurant. It is one of two restaurants in Sicily to have been awarded two Michelin stars.
Circolo di Conversazione (Conversation Club)
Another of the locations featured in Inspector Montalbano is also in Piazza Duomo in Ragusa. This is ‘Il Circolo di Conversazione‘ or ‘Caffè dei Cavalieri’ (Knights’ Café), a splendid 1850 building constructed in the neoclassical style. Over the course of the various seasons, this location has been used several times as a set. It first appears in the episode The Terracotta Dog, when Inspector Montalbano goes to interrupt Dr Pasquano during a game of cards. The interior of this fantastic location was also used in the episode The Smell of the Night to recreate the headquarters of the ‘King Midas’ financial agency. The Circolo di Conversazione in Ragusa also appears in the episode The Paper Moon.
Church of Santa Maria delle Scale
The Church of Santa Maria delle Scale is one of Ragusa’s landmarks and one of the best places to appreciate a view of the city. The 320 steps, which start from this church and connect the new town with Ragusa Ibla, have often appeared in episodes of Inspector Montalbano. This is where, for example, an old lady is mugged in The Cat and the Goldfinch. Other glimpses of this location are also seen in A Delicate Affair and The Catalanotti Method.
Trattoria Da Calogero (‘A Rusticana’ Restaurant in Ragusa)
One of Inspector Montalbano’s greatest passions is good food, and especially fish. If Adelina always has a meal ready for dinner, the regular lunchtime appointment is at Trattoria Da Calogero. In the first episodes, the location chosen for filming the interior scenes was the restaurant ‘A Rusticana’ in Ragusa Ibla. Subsequently, the setting moved to a sea-view venue, the summer version of the ‘Trattoria Da Calogero’. It is the restaurant ‘Enzo a mare’ located on the seafront of the small village of Punta Secca.
Giardino Ibleo
The Giardino Ibleo is Ragusa’s main public garden and appears in several Inspector Montalbano episodes. The main entrance is featured in some scenes where Salvo is waiting for Livia to arrive by bus. In the episode The Paper Moon, the location has instead become a stately nursing home where the Inspector meets with an old thief to ask for his help. It is also amidst the avenues of the Giardino Ibleo that the episode A diary from ’43 ends.
Piazza and Cathedral of San Giovanni
The Cathedral of San Giovanni is Ragusa’s second cathedral and is located in the new part of the city. It is one of the monuments included in the UNESCO site Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto and appears in scenes from several episodes of Inspector Montalbano. One of these is The Potter’s Field, when Salvo arrives in Piazza San Giovanni and enters one of the workshops beneath the churchyard. To be more precise, it is the Macelleria Pecorini (Pecorini’s Butchers) which Inspector Montalbano inspects and then leaves without buying anything.
Palazzo delle poste
The Palazzo delle Poste in Ragusa is another location that has appeared in several episodes of the TV series. In Excursion to Tindari, for example, Inspector Montalbano speaks with the director himself in order to gain access to the bank account details of an elderly couple who have disappeared. It is a building constructed according to the typical principles of Fascist architecture and was inaugurated on 30 October 1938. On top of the building are nine female statues representing the provinces of Sicily. The other episodes in which the Palazzo delle Poste in Ragusa appears are: The Smell of the Night and The Shape of Water.
Gonfalone Quarry
On the outskirts of Ragusa, there is an important site of industrial archaeology: the Gonfalone Quarry. All the stone blocks that were used to rebuild the city of Ragusa after the 1693 earthquake razed it to the ground were extracted from here. In the episode As Per Procedure, the presence of silicon dust in the lungs of two victims leads Montalbano and his men to an abandoned stone quarry, bringing them closer and closer to solving the case. In Equal Time, however, the Inspector arranges for the members of the two rival Mafia families, the Sinagras and the Cuffaros, to meet in this location to reach a truce.
Montalbano locations near Ragusa
Castello di Donnafugata
The Castello di Donnafugata is a sumptuous aristocratic residence located about 15 kilometres from Ragusa. The series production team has often made use of this enchanting Sicilian location and all its areas. In the episode Excursion to Tindari, the interiors and exteriors of this fantastic location become the home of Don Balduccio Sinagra, who summons the Inspector for a meeting. In the same episode, the maze in the castle garden becomes the place where the bodies of Mr and Mrs Griffo are found. In the episode, The Track of Sand, the gardens of the Castello di Donnafugata reappear, this time to set the scene for the “Ladies’ Race” in which Ingrid’s friend Rachele Esterman takes part.
Interesting fact: Luca Zingaretti, the actor who plays the Inspector, and his wife, Luisa Ranieri, chose the Castello di Donnafugata for their wedding reception. The guests included Cesare Bocci (Mimì Augello) and Peppino Mazzotta (Inspector Fazio).
Eremo della Giubiliana
In the episode, The Voice of the Violin, Agent Gallo’s reckless driving causes a collision with a parked car In the episode, The Voice of the Violin, Agent Gallo’s reckless driving causes a collision with a parked car near a villa. Inspector Montalbano’s sixth sense prompts him to return, a few hours later, to the scene of the accident and then to enter the villa. Inside, Salvo finds the naked body of the beautiful Michela Licalzi. The location chosen for these scenes is the Eremo della Giubiliana, a 16th-century convent-fortress that has now been transformed into an elegant hotel. The other episodes in which the Eremo della Giubiliana appears are: The Snack Thief and The Patience of the Spider.
Villa Criscione
Villa Criscione is a beautiful luxury villa located in Camemi, a small town about twenty minutes from Ragusa. The building’s origins probably date back to the 16th century, but over the years it has undergone several modifications and alterations. Today, the structure is a perfect blend of a traditional Iblean farmhouse with Hispano-Moorish architectural elements. It is used as a venue for wedding receptions, meetings and corporate events. In the Inspector Montalbano episode The Shape of Water, Villa Criscione became the home of Engineer Luparello, a Vigata politician, who was found dead in his car in the ‘Mannara’. Villa Criscione also appears in some scenes in the episode ‘A Diary from ’43’.
Grotta delle Trabacche
In the episode The Terracotta Dog, thanks to a tip from the boss “Tanu u grecu”, Montalbano and his men find a weapons depot used by the Mafia. This is inside a cave that is closed off by a door and well camouflaged. When the Inspector searches the interior, however, they also find two skeletons with a large terracotta dog and a small plate of coins beside them. The location used for these scenes is the Grotta delle Trabacche, a cave located just outside Ragusa. It is an important example of burial architecture probably dating back to the 4th century AD. It comprises a hypogeum entirely excavated from the rock, forming two large adjoining chambers.
Kamarina Archaeological Museum
In the episode Beloved Salvo, my Livia, a girl is found dead in the Vigata archives. Suspicion initially falls on Giorgio Scalia, a university professor with whom the victim was having an affair. So Inspector Montalbano goes to one of his classes in person to ask him a few questions. The location used to create the University of Vigata is the Kamarina Archaeological Museum in Scoglitti, not far from Ragusa.
Montalbano locations in Scicli
Scicli Town Hall (Vigata Police Station and Montelusa Police Headquarters)
One of Montalbano’s most frequent locations is undoubtedly the Scicli Town Hall. In the former Chamber of Labour on the ground floor, visitors can see the permanent set for Inspector Montalbano and his deputy, Mimì Augello’s offices. Upstairs, there is also the Mayor of Scicli’s office, which in the TV series was used to recreate the office of Chief of Police Bonetti-Alderighi. Palazzo Iacono, located in Piazza Italia, was used for the exterior of the Montelusa Police Headquarters.
La farmacia Cartia
In the episode The Smell of the Night, Inspector Montalbano must have a false bandage put on his head to cover up the umpteenth lie he has told the Montelusa Chief of Police. To do so, he enters a pharmacy which, in reality, is the Farmacia Cartia. This is a very old pharmacy dating back to 1902 and located in the same street as the Town Hall. In 2014, it was turned into a museum whose shelves still hold the jars of natural essences, ampoules, bottles, scales, ceramics and an old cash register.
Palazzo Spadaro
Palazzo Spadaro is one of the many historic buildings that can be visited in Scicli and is also a Montalbano location. It was built around 1700 and still retains some original elements. In the bedroom, for example, you can see the original floor made of Caltagirone tiles. In the Inspector Montalbano series, the interiors of Palazzo Spadaro were used to create the Mayor of Vigata’s home.
Cava San Bartolomeo and Chiafura district
The Cava di San Bartolomeo is one of three natural canyons, cut by three streams, on which the town of Scicli is built. This part of the city stretches for about 500 metres from Piazza Italia, extending out into the countryside. This area of Scicli is home to the Church of San Bartolomeo, several historic houses such as Palazzo Iacono and Palazzo Fava, and the old Chiafura district. These views of Scicli often appear in Inspector Montalbano episodes, such as in The Terracotta Dog, when Salvo and Livia walk together during a village festival, amidst jugglers and stalls.
Interesting fact: In Andrea Camilleri’s novel, this story is actually set in Palermo’s Vucciria Market.
Cava di Santa Maria la Nova
The Cava di Santa Maria la Nova is the other large canyon where the town of Scicli lies. There are a number of interesting spots in the area, some of which have featured in the Inspector Montalbano series. These include the Chiesa della Consolazione (Church of the Consolation), the Chiesa del Rosario (Church of the Rosary) and the Church of Santa Maria la Nova. These three landmarks can be identified in the series’ opening theme song. The Convento del Rosario also takes centre stage during the episode The Wings of the Sphinx. On this occasion, Inspector Montalbano and Fazio meet Father Pinna, a priest who is passionate about boxing and tries to help the prostitutes of Vigata to change their lives.
Chiesa del Carmine
Another Montalbano location to visit in Scicli is the Chiesa del Carmine. The building’s courtyard appears in the episode Blade of Light, when Inspector Montalbano and Detective Fazio meet with Luigina Castro to ask her some questions. This location was also used in the Young Montalbano episode entitled The Third Secret.
Convento della Croce
Moving to the upper part of the town of Scicli, we find the Santa Maria della Croce Complex. The building, which is one of the oldest in the city, comprises a convent, a church, an oratory and two courtyards. From its location, the church offers one of the best views of Scicli. In the episode The Potter’s Field, we can enjoy Catarella’s talents as an actor in the role of Judas. The scenes of the play are staged in one of the cloisters in the Convento della Croce and later in one of the outer courtyards.
The Mannara (Fornace Penna)
The Mannara is undoubtedly one of Montalbano’s most iconic locations and appears frequently in various episodes in the series. In Camilleri’s imagination, it is a place on the outskirts of Vigata, close to the sea, where the ruins of an old chemical plant stand. It is the realm of Gegè, an old acquaintance of Inspector Montalbano, who runs the city’s drug and prostitution ring from there. To recreate this location, the production team used the remains of the Fornace Penna (Penna Furnaces) in Sampieri, a small village near Scicli. This is one of the most fascinating industrial heritage sites in Sicily, consisting of an old brick factory that was active until 1924. In the episode The Smell of the Night, the body of the lawyer, Luparello, is found in his car. The Mannara also appears in the episodes The Patience of the Spider, The Game of Three Cards and The Sand Track.
Punta Corvo
Between the towns of Samperi and Cava d’Aliga, there is a long stretch of coastline made up of a high cliff surrounded by Mediterranean scrub. This area is called Punta Corvo and the so-called ‘Casetta del Finanziere’ (Customs House) is located here. It is an old structure that was once used by the Guardia di Finanza (Italian Customs Agents) as a lighthouse. It features at the end of the episode Excursion to Tindari, when Inspector Montalbano tries to break down the door of an abandoned building. The sea in this area also takes centre stage at the end of the episode Treasure Hunt, when Montalbano, exhausted by one of the most difficult cases he has ever faced, decides to take a dip.
Montalbano locations in Punta Secca
Inspector Montalbano’s House
Inspector Montalbano’s house is certainly the most famous Montalbano location in the series. Coffee on the terrace, a walk on the beach with the phone plugged into the extension cord and, above all, the nearby sea, are all scenes that are engraved in fans’ imaginations. If you want to be Salvo Montalbano for a day, then you should go to Punta Secca, a small village near Santa Croce di Camerina. In fact, when the house is not being used for filming, it is a B&B called the Casa di Montalbano. Just a few metres away is the Punta Secca Lighthouse, which is often seen in the series and also features in the opening credits.
The ‘Enzo a mare’ Restaurant
Strolling along the seafront at Punta Secca, you will come across one of Inspector Montalbano’s favourite places, namely the Enzo a mare Restaurant. Here the ritual of a fish lunch is repeated every day, best enjoyed in religious silence and preferably alone. The inhabitants of Punta Secca know this place as ‘Chalet’, but since this location was chosen as Montalbano’s restaurant, it has become ‘Enzo a mare’ for everyone. All that remains is to choose one of the fish dishes on the menu, then sit back and enjoy the sound of the waves.
Donnalucata Promenade
Donnalucata is Punta Secca’s seaside village, which in the drama becomes Marinella’s promenade. Montalbano often comes here to take a walk or to meet people for questioning. Also in Donnalucata is Palazzo Mormino Penna, a beautiful building with a red façade and a neo-Gothic design. In the episodes The Terracotta Dog and The Shape of Water, the interior of the building was used as the Vigata Police Station.
Montalbano locations in Ispica
Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore and the Loggiato del Sinatra
One of the most famous corners of Ispica is undoubtedly Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore. Here you will find the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore and a splendid Loggia built by the architect, Vincenzo Sinatra, the same architect who rebuilt Noto after the earthquake of 1693. You may recognise this location from the episode The Paper Moon, when Inspector Montalbano crosses the square to meet a jeweller for questioning. Sinatra’s splendid Loggia can also be seen in the episode The Safety Net, where a Swedish film crew is shooting a period film. The interior of the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Ispica is, on the other hand, seen in the episode The Wings of the Sphinx, when the Inspector hears an elderly man’s confession.
Larderia Catacombs in Cava d’Ispica
In the episode The Patience of the Spider, Inspector Montalbano is faced with a very strange kidnapping case. The kidnappers demand a ransom from Antonio Peruzzo, who leaves a bag of money in a cave. In reality, these are the Larderia Catacombs located within the Cava d’Ispica archaeological site. It is a valley that stretches for about 13 kilometres between the towns of Modica and Ispica. In this area, there are prehistoric necropolises, Christian catacombs, rocky oratories, monastic hermitages and various types of dwellings.
Palazzo Bruno-Modica
Palazzo Bruno-Modica is a splendid late 19th-century Art Nouveau building designed by architect, Ernesto Basile. This beautiful building in Ispica was used as a location in the episodes The Paper Moon and The Wings of the Sphinx. In the first, the interior of the building became a jewellery shop first and then a branch of the ‘Banca di Fanara’. In The Wings of the Sphinx, on the other hand, the building was used as a paint shop that was set on fire in an unusual way.
Villa Bruno di Belmonte
In the episode The Patience of the Spider, Inspector Montalbano investigates the mysterious disappearance of Susanna Mistretta. He then decides to personally question one of the young girl’s classmates. The staircase and interiors in this scene are those of Villa Bruno di Belmonte. It is an Art Nouveau villa, also known as a ‘Casino’, located in the southern part of the town of Ispica.
Punta Cirica or Punta Ciriga
Twenty minutes from Ispica, on the south coast of Sicily, is one of Montalbano’s most charming locations. It is Punta Cirica or Ciriga and, in this area, the coastline alternates between sheer cliffs and small sandy beaches, caves and stacks. This little-known part of Sicily can be seen in the episode Treasure Hunt, when the Inspector arrives in a fishing village after a report of a body being found, which later turns out to be an inflatable doll.
Montalbano locations in Modica
Modica Cathedral
Modica Cathedral, with its imposing façade, is one of the many Baroque masterpieces you can see in the city and appears in various shots in the series. In the first few episodes, Montalbano often passes by its steps while waiting for Livia’s bus to arrive. In August Flame, on the other hand, the Inspector parks his car in front of the Duomo di San Giorgio and then meets with an estate agent. Dr Pasquano’s house overlooks the churchyard, as seen in the episode The Artist’s Touch. In fact, the Inspector goes and disturbs him on his doorstep to get some information about an autopsy.
Palazzo Castro-Polara Grimaldi
Palazzo Castro-Pollara Grimaldi is a splendid historical residence that dates back to the 18th century and overlooks Modica Cathedral. Inside the building, time has stood still since 1903, when the last changes were made by the owners. The original furnishings and collections can still be viewed today. In the Inspector Montalbano series, this beautiful building was used as the home of Dr Pasquano. His balcony was the setting for the famous breakfast that Montalbano interrupted in the episode A Nest of Vipers. Here, too, was the funeral scene in which we said goodbye to the doctor.
Former Jesuit College
In Beloved Salvo, my Livia, a girl is found dead inside the Vigata municipal archives where she worked. The location chosen for these scenes was the former Jesuit College in Modica, which now houses the Liceo Tommaso Campailla (Secondary School). However, its current function is maintained in the episode Artist’s Touch, where it was used to film Professor Giacomo La Russa’s lecture scene. In The Sand Track, on the other hand, the college’s classrooms become the offices of Judge Scognamiglio.
Convento di Santa Maria del Gesù
Agata Cosentino, the young victim featured in the episode Beloved Salvo, my Livia, was a shy and reserved girl but very socially committed. During the episode, Inspector Montalbano pays a visit to the charitable association where Agata helped out to try to shed some light on the case. The location chosen for these scenes is the Convento di Santa Maria del Gesù in Modica.
Montalbano locations in Noto
Palazzo Ducezio
In the episode The Mud Pyramid, Salvo meets with his friend, the Head of the Narcotics Squad, to try to make up for yet another mistake made by Mimì Augello. This is because his deputy had arrested Saverio Piscopo, a bricklayer whom the Mafia tried to pass off as a drug dealer, rather too hastily. Palazzo Ducezio was used for the exterior of the Narcotics Headquarters. It is one of the splendid Baroque buildings constructed after the 1693 earthquake and is now Noto’s Town Hall.
Former Monastery of San Tommaso (Vigata Prison)
The former Monastery of San Tommaso is the setting for Vigata Prison. This location appears in several episodes, thanks above all to one character, Pasquale. Adelina’s son just can’t help committing crimes and we often see him climbing the stairs of this magnificent baroque palace. Currently this building houses the Noto prison.
Palazzo Nicolaci
Palazzo Nicolaci is one of Noto’s landmarks. Built in the Baroque style with characteristic balconies decorated with mermaids, lions, sphinxes and winged horses, it has over 90 rooms. The palace’s main section was purchased by the Municipality of Noto and can be visited. In the episode Artist’s Touch, Palazzo Nicolaci becomes the home of the notary who drew up Alberto Lorusso’s will and who was later found dead. Another part of the building appears in later Inspector Montalbano episodes. It is the old Loggia del Mercato in Via Rocco Pirri. This location was used to film some scenes in the episodes: A Den of Vipers and The Mud Pyramid.
Montalbano locations in Agrigento
The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento
In the episode As Per Procedure, a historic encounter takes place. Returning home, the Inspector finds both Livia and Ingrid Sjöström. Like good accomplices, Salvo and Ingrid pretend to Livia that they have only just met and that it is the first time the Swedish woman has set foot in the house. This incident obviously puts the Inspector on alert and he decides to take precautions when they meet again. So he arranges to meet in a somewhat unusual place far from Vigata. The scenes were shot in the beautiful Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, one of Sicily’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Tomb of Luigi Pirandello
In the episode Love, Inspector Montalbano makes the acquaintance, in a rather bizarre way, of Mr and Mrs Di Giovanni. They are a couple of elderly actors, still bound by a very deep love of theatre. One of their shows, in which Salvo and Livia also participate, is staged in a very special and symbolic place. It is the grave of Luigi Pirandello, the Sicilian writer and playwright who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1934. You can visit it by heading just outside Agrigento, on a country road bordering Porto Empedocle, known as the Kaos district. Here you will find Luigi Pirandello’s birthplace, which you can visit, and the writer’s tomb is in the garden.
Other Montalbano locations in Sicily
Tonnara di Scopello
In the episode The Sense of Touch, Salvo and Livia decide to take a few days off and visit the island of Levanza. During this short holiday, which is actually related to an investigation, the couple stay in a bed & breakfast close to the sea. The location used is the Tonnara di Scopello, a magical place where you can also stay. The old building has been renovated to create 15 holiday apartments. By purchasing an entrance ticket, you can access the Faraglioni Beach in Scopello and visit the old ‘tonnara’ or tuna factory. The beautiful sandy beach you can see is, however, the famous Spiaggia dei Conigli (Rabbit Beach) and is located on the island of Lampedusa. The ferry scenes have, in fact, the island of Favigana as their backdrop.
Tonnara del Secco
Another tuna factory was also chosen by the production team as the location for another episode of Inspector Montalbano. It was the Tonnara del Secco, which is located in San Vito Lo Capo, a favourite destination for tourists who love the sea. In the episode Rounding the Mark, it becomes the Tonnara del Guercio and is where Ingrid meets her lover. In the same episode, some scenes feature another iconic landmark of Santo Vito Lo Capo, the Cappella di Santa Crescenzia.
Grotta Mangiapane in Custonaci
In The Snack Thief, Montalbano meets François, a Tunisian boy who lives with his mother Karima in Villaseta, a few kilometres outside Vigata. A very special location was used to represent this imaginary place. It was the Grotta Mangiapane in Custonaci, a small village half an hour’s drive from Trapani. The homes, here, were built inside a large cave in the 1950s, but the area has been inhabited since the Palaeolithic period. Every year, this small village comes back to life and is populated by about 160 performers who take part in the Living Nativity of Custonaci.
The Santuario di Tindari and Laghetti di Marinello
Another of Montalbano’s locations that is definitely worth a visit is Tindari. It is a small town in the province of Messina, famous for its sanctuary that houses a Black Madonna. In the episode Excursion to Tindari, Montalbano investigates the disappearance of an elderly couple, Mr and Mrs Griffo. At the end of the episode, the backdrop for Livia’s umpteenth attempt to tackle the subject of ‘marriage’ is the Santuario di Tindari and the Laghetti di Marinello (Marinello Pools).
Interesting fact: Throughout the province of Messina, there is a special dessert prepared in honour of the Madonna of Tindari, called ‘riso nero’ (black rice). The recipe involves cooking the rice in milk and then adding cocoa or bitter chocolate along with other ingredients.
Montalbano locations in Comiso
During the episode Montalbano’s Arancini, the Inspector investigates the death of Mr and Mrs Pagnozzi. The investigation leads him to delve into the past of Calogero Picone, a mechanic from Vigata. The trail thus leads to the Istituto Sacro Cuore di Maria, the orphanage where the boy grew up. The premises used were those of the former fish market in Comiso, where various cultural bodies and associations, including the Gesualdo Bufalino Foundation, are now based. In the scenes showing the Inspector entering and leaving the orphanage, another Comiso landmark can be spotted behind him, namely the Basilica di Santa Maria delle Stelle.
Marzamemi
The village of Marzamemi is a truly unique and fascinating corner of Sicily. It is located almost on the south-eastern tip of the island, just a few kilometres from Pachino, the town known for its cherry tomatoes. You have probably spotted the main square of Marzamemi with its characteristic blue and white tables and chairs. This particular location was used in some shots during the episode The Smell of the Night. The scene shows Inspector Montalbano, followed by a black dog, crossing the square, leaving the little church behind him and arriving on the seafront to go and question a prostitute.
Montalbano locations in Portopalo di Capo Passero
Further south from Marzamemi, there is another very characteristic seaside village with beautiful beaches, Portopalo di Capo Passero. Some of the most significant parts of this small town appear in the episode The Smell of the Night. During the investigation into the disappearance of an accountant, Gargano, Inspector Montalbano pays a visit to Antonino Tommasino, a witness considered by all to be unreliable. The Tonnara di Capo Passero and Castello di Tafuri can be spotted during the encounter.
Villa Fegotto in Chiaramonte Gulfi
Villa Fegotto is a beautiful residence located in Chiaramonte Gulfi, a small village in the Sicilian countryside north of Ragusa. The estate comprises several spaces including an oil mill, a winery, a granary and a one-hectare garden. These locations have appeared in several instalments of Inspector Montalbano. The scenes that open The Terracotta Dog, when Montalbano and his men arrest ‘Tanu u Grecu’, were filmed here. In The Cat and the Goldfinch, the villa becomes the home of Ignazio Coglitore, a domineering father who keeps his daughter, Mariuccia, imprisoned at home. Villa Fegotto also appears in The Track of Sand and The Patience of the Spider in the scenes involving the kidnapping of Susanna Mistretta.
Montalbano locations in Syracuse
In the episode Round the Mark, Montalbano finds himself investigating a human trafficking ring from Africa. During the episode, we see the Inspector’s Fiat Tipo passing through some of the most beautiful and famous places in Ortigia, the ancient historical centre of Syracuse. You may recognise: Syracuse Cathedral, Palazzo Beneventano and Palazzo Vermexio.Since 2005, Ortigia has been one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sicily, part of the Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica itinerary.The episode Around the Mark also shows the seaside village of Brucoli, in whose port the migrant landing scenes are set.
