Gioacchino Cataldo was the last "rais" (chief of the fishermen), the eighth in the history of the Florio-owned establishment.
Ever since he was a child, "the love for tuna" he called it, had led him to become a fisherman for a period of 33 years and rais for 11.
He died on 21 July 2018 with a deep regret on the part of all the people who had loved him and also of those who had been fascinated by his exploits.
He was often seen walking around the island with his impressive yet elegant appearance. Fù a sui-generis fisherman, he himself liked to call himself "romantic fisherman" in his veins the salt air flowed and his heart beat to the rhythm of the waves that furrowed his beloved islands.
Favignana loses a man who has dedicated his life to the trap but also the torment of a tonnaroto worried about the future of the factory and the fishing sector.
"When my generation and that of fifty-year-olds will no longer be there, the fisherman's trade will be lost because the young people do not want to learn this job. You must have the tonnara in your blood, you must love it, it's all a number", he said he called himself "strong by numbers".
He was a profound connoisseur of the sea and in particular of tuna fishing through the use of fixed tuna of Arab origin, a millenary tradition that is now disappearing.
What proudly reminds us of our "rais" was that he managed to carve out the role of testimonial of the mattanza over the years and in 2006 he was included among the "living human treasures" of the Intangible Heritage Register of Sicily, a document prepared by the Region Sicilian to preserve the immaterial riches of the island, a living encyclopedia of fishing, of life as a tonnaroto and of the true passion for the sea.
Now the King has placed the crown on the most beautiful cliff of Favignana, we want to remember you like this, Neptune is back in his kingdom.
Favignana -Tonnara Florio
The former Tuna-fish Establishment: Tonnara Florio
Favignana -Cala Rossa Bay
one of the most beautiful beaches in the world
Levanzo - Genoese Cave (Grotta del Genovese)
It was discovered in 1949 to the northwest by the small seaside village of Levanzo.
Favignana - Lovers’ Cave - Grotta degli Innamorati
A splendid cave, crystal clear sea, a romantic story.
Favignana - Cala Azzurra Bay
The bay that takes its name from the color of the sea
Favignana - Bue Marino Bay
One of the most particular dreams of Favignana.
Levanzo - Capo Grosso
The most suggestive cliff of the egadi
The nature reserve of the Saline Trapani and Paceco
The nature reserve that contains a thousand-year history.
The history of the Florio Family
A successful entrepreneurial dynasty
Favignana Island
The butterfly-shaped island, wonder of the Egadi
Favignana - Beach of Lido Burrone
Lido Burrone, the equipped beach of Favignana.
Favignana - Cala San Nicola beach
Small beach on the south side.
Favignana - Grotta Perciata
A lovely place to immerse yourself in contact with nature.
Colicchia Pastry Ice cream Granita trapani
The historic Trapanese pastry and the granita that awakens the taste buds.
Marettimo Island
Sea, nature and history set in what is the pearl of the Mediterranean.
Cous Cous Fest San Vito Lo Capo
A fantastic combination of flavors and traditions
Castle of Santa Caterina Favignana
The Castle of Santa Caterina is the manor that dominates the island
Natural Reserve of Mountain Cofano
The perfect combination of history and nature
Zingaro Nature Reserve
One of the most magical corners of Sicily where land and sea dance in unison
San Vito Lo Capo City
The ideal destination for your holidays in Sicily.
Favignana - Beach of Scalo Cavallo
The beach born from an old tuff quarry
Erice
Discovering the "Medieval village of Erice"
Favignana - Praia Beach
beach near the center of the village
Favignana - Bay of Cala Rotonda
When Mother Nature creates wonders!
Island of Levanzo
Levanzo, the most romantic and small island of the Egadi
Cala Fredda (Fridda) Beach - Levanzo
Cala Fredda a small beach composed of rocks.
Cala Minnola Beach - Levanzo
The beach known for its pine forest overlooking the sea.
Favignana - Punta Longa Beach
Known for its enchanting and characteristic fishing harbour.
Favignana - Cala Grande Beach
Perfect place to relax and enjoy the tranquility.
Scopello
Scopello - La Tonnara
Place where sea and history meet in a unique beauty.
Scopello - Faraglioni beach
Little corner of paradise.
Scopello - Guidaloca beach
Seaside village of Castellammare del Golfo
One of the most wonderful seaside villages in Italy.
Palermo
Palermo, the largest city in Sicily, fascinating, rich in history and culture.
Palermo - Isola delle Femmine
The Isola delle Femmine is a small islet surrounded by myth and legend
Palermo - Beach Addaura
Addaura, one of Palermo's oldest jewels.
Palermo - “Monte Pellegrino” nature reserve
Among the unmissable and magical places of Palermo with a rich variety of flora and fauna.
Palermo - Villa Igiea
The emblem of the liberty style in Palermo.
Palermo - Grotta della Regina
One of the jewels of Palermo, a fascinating and mysterious place.
Palermo - The city of Street Food
Palermo is a city rich in history and culture, this is also inevitably reflected in its gastronomy.
Palermo - La Cala
La Cala is an unmissable destination for anyone visiting Palermo.
Palermo - Mondello
Mondello is a very popular tourist destination, thanks to its natural beauty, its history and its lively social life.
Palermo - Spiaggia Vergine Maria
An ideal destination for those visiting Palermo and looking for a quiet and evocative place to spend a day at the seaside.
Palermo - Nature reserve “Capo Gallo”
Among the most beautiful reserves in Sicily, a suggestive place, with high cliffs overlooking the sea.
I Leoni di Sicilia
The Florios: a successful and legendary family
Messina - Giardini Naxos Beach
The Giardini Naxos beach is one of the most beautiful and renowned on the Sicilian coast
Taormina - Grotta dell’amore
It has always been considered a romantic and ideal place for lovers due to its intimate and evocative atmosphere.
Taormina - Isola bella
In front of the coast of Taormina, immersed in the crystal clear waters of the Ionian Sea, stands Isola Bella, a small islet of rare beauty.
Taormina - Grotta Azzurra
A natural cavity with a magical and mysterious charm, under the promontory of Capo Taormina, hidden between the cliffs overlooking the sea.
Taormina - Mazzarò
A few kilometers from Taormina, lies Mazzarò, an ancient seaside village of rare beauty.
Taormina - Baia delle Sirene
Nestled between Capo Taormina and Isola Bella, lies the Baia delle Sirene, a place of rare wild beauty.
Taormina
On the eastern coast of Sicily, it was born on a natural terrace overlooking the Ionian Sea, one of the most renowned tourist locations in the world.
Taormina - Anfiteatro Greco/Romano
The Greco-Roman Amphitheater of Taormina is an ancient jewel with breathtaking views, an architectural masterpiece.
Taormina - Lo scoglio di Zio Gennaro
A few steps from Taormina, immersed in the crystal clear waters of the Ionian Sea, is the Scoglio dello Zio Gennaro.
Taormina - The white lotus (the series)
Taormina set of the series "The White Lotus": a perfect combination of ancient charm and worldliness, an international success.