The Scala dei Turchi è a rock face (cliff) that rises sheer above the sea along the coast of Realmonte, near Porto Empedocle. The Scala è consists of marl, a sedimentary rock of limestone and clay nature, having a characteristic pure white color. The name of the Scala dei Turchi comes from its natural shape and from the piracy raids of which it was the scene, by Arab populations generically called “Turks” who, according to legend moored their ships in the waters of the Scala, which represented an excellent landing place less beaten by the winds and protected by coastal surveillance. From there they would climb between the inlets of the cliff, reach the top and plunder every good from the nearby villages. It is said that the Turks ended their raids in the Scala after clashing with the population of what is now Porto Empedocle where the latter got the better of them. Hence originated the dialectal exclamation “Cu piglia un turcu è so“. In addition to its unique shape, white color, landscape and Sicilian sea, the Scala dei Turchi also owes its popularity to Andrea Camilleri's novels starring Commissioner Montalbano written, in which such places are mentioned (near è the ’imaginary village of the commissioner, Vigata).
