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Tuna factory of Orsa
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The grant for the Tonnara dell'Orsa was given by King Ludwig of Sicily to Conrad de Castellis in 1344. In 1382 came to the Benedictine Monastery of St. Martin of Scale and the immense wealth was one of the brothers for almost five centuries. In 1569 the malfaraggio was enlarged and restored, assuming the current and incorporating the fourteenth-century tower. The beam has square with a courtyard surrounded between thick walls. It reaches inside through a Gothic arch, the main entrance, which was once closed by a gate. Immediately on the right side there is a building with two elevations: the ground floor were bonded warehouses and rooms working on the upper floor of the house Rais. On the left still rooms from work and tavern; all environments have characteristics vaults stone. In the closest to the sea, close to the walls, the tower rises, two elevations and square. The supporting the corners of big costoloni that s'interrompono to the screed. La Torre, who served as a point of warning to protect the tuna, in the eighteenth century was included in the program official warning which included the entire coast of the island. To the left of the Tower is a great place with arches rampant, trizzana, where boats were hospitalized. In traverse wall was rebuilt the appendituri that used to hang tuna after evisceration. Even more than find a chapel, a small square building dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and, finally, the show, which is also a square, which is controlled movements inland, with walkway, loopholes and caditoie. Adjacent to this torrino you can look at the system for collecting water, with a well and cistern, and wash the oven. The position of Tonnara dell'Orsa was never fortunate because of the proximity of other tuna that intercettavano tuna. In the centuries gave the Benedictines managed several private, and sometimes tried to direct management with little fortune. At the beginning of the twentieth century was finally abandoned. The tuna was restored years ago with a speech by the Superintendent of Palermo. Despite the many initiatives promoted, especially by Salvalarte Sicily, there is still no clarity on the future management of the monument. If it goes ahead with the current irresponsibility this extraordinary heritage could return to oblivion and degradation. We remain convinced that the tuna can, however, accommodate a pole technical, scientific and cultural promotion and dissemination of issues related to the sea and the protection of its natural and archaeological heritage.
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