Finale Between Coast and Cultural Heritage

Finale brings together coastal scenery and historic buildings, with the river landscape of the Gole di Tiberio nearby. If you are looking for a hotel in Finale, you can plan your stay around the themes that interest you most: local history and architecture, the coast, or nature in the surrounding area. These contrasting focuses become clear at specific places.

Buildings and Local History

The Torre di Finale is a coastal watchtower belonging to the Spanish fortification system and was built in 1597. It stands above the coastal cliff known as “scoglio grande.” The tower’s date of construction and location link it to the history of coastal fortifications and the coastal landscape. After 2014, the Torre di Finale, also known as the Torre del Marchese Ventimiglia di Geraci, was used as a museum for temporary exhibitions.

The Parrocchia Maria SS. della Lettera is centrally located in Finale and features simple architecture typical of local traditions. Its interiors house statues, paintings, and sacred furnishings. Unlike the tower, the focus here is not on the fortification system but on church architecture and sacred furnishings. This offers a way to explore coastal fortifications and religious heritage as distinct themes.

Palazzo Ventimiglia is considered the first settlement nucleus of Finale. It was built in 1700 at the behest of the Marquis of Geraci. Its façade, external staircase, and wrought-iron railing preserve an 18th-century appearance. Together with the tower dating from 1597, it provides two specific points of reference in time. The Palazzo adds the story of an early settlement nucleus to that of the coastal watchtower.

Craftsmanship is also part of the town’s history. In the 1950s, chairs were made from agave (Agave americana L.) in Cortile Carrettieri; soap was also produced there. The history of local crafts thus encompasses both agave chairs and soapmaking. At the 2024 Festival della Pizza in Finale, 14 stands each presented a different gourmet offering. Compared with the craft activities of the 1950s, this is a later example of a culinary event.

Coast and River Landscape

Solarium is one of the long beaches lining the settlement of Finale. Nearby, the main stretch of the Gole di Tiberio forms a canyon almost 300 meters long. The natural landscapes therefore differ: on one side, a beach by the settlement; on the other, a river gorge in the surrounding area.

You can swim in the clear river pools of the Gole di Tiberio, and the gorge is easy to reach from Finale. The Gole is listed in the UNESCO Global Geoparks and the European Geopark Network; it has been listed in the Global Geopark Network since 2004. If you would like to compare the beach and river landscapes, these offer two distinct settings and activities: the long beaches by the town and swimming in the gorge’s river pools.

Discover more destinations: Ficarazzi, Contessa Entellina, Terrasini, Polizzi Generosa, Montelepre, San Cipirello, Castelbuono, Trappeto

For the full travel overview: Palermo.