The Scala dei Turchi

The "Stair of the Turks" is a rocky cliff on the coast of Realmonte, near Porto Empedocle. It has become a tourist attraction due to its unusual white color, as well as by its mention in Andrea Camilleri's series of detective stories about Commissario Montalbano. The Scala is formed by marl, a sedimentary rock with a characteristic white color. It lies between two sandy beaches, and is accessed through a limestone rock formation in the shape of a staircase, hence the name. The latter part of the name derives from the frequent raids carried on by Moors.