Favignana's historic Camparìa tuna fishery on Sicily’s little Egadi island has undergone a major conservative redevelopment.
Now the former warehouses and storage area of the Tonnara di Favignana, the beating heart of the island’s fishing life from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, has been given a new lease of life.
The project will be complete in 2023
Leading this ambitious project is Fabio Tagliavia, a Palermo-based entrepreneur with thirty years' experience in the shipping sector, who aims to breathe new life into this symbol of the island. Work should be completed by the summer of 2023, and the area will be designed to host exhibitions and events featuring local arts and crafts. 
A glamorous lounge on the sea
But already this summer it is possible to experience the history of the old tuna fishery by visiting its museum and the island's first bookshop with volumes dedicated to its past. Central to the life of the Camparìa project is the glamorous lounge bar by the sea, the former docking area, where visitors can enjoy a selection of fish dishes and the island’s best mixology.
“You can feel the history of this place”
"My aim is to create an authentic 360° emotional journey. Here at Camparìa you can feel the history of this place, with its cultural links to industrial archaeology, to art and to the history of the old facility and to the Florio family, without forgetting food and wine, tuna and Marsala,” said Tagliavia.
Creating alternative accommodation
The entrepreneur is also trying to bridge the hospitality gap. “The island does not currently have adequate accommodation to welcome guests for long and comfortable stays in lodgings other than houses and room rentals. With Camparìa and other projects,- concludes Tagliavia, - I will create alternative accommodation for unique and authentic experiences. 
A resort with 20 rooms and a spa
Thanks to a loan of some €4.8 million from the Ministry of Economic Development through Invitalia, the plan is to hire some 100 seasonal workers and open an up-market resort with 20 rooms, a spa and wellness services as well as a bio-emotional park. And in the winter months the owners plan to transform the facility into a training academy for young people from Favignana.
