 The name Portopalo comes from the Latin Portus Palus, that means "porto palude"(marshy harbour), and in 1975 the words Capo Passero have been added to distinguish it from the homonymous Porto Palo in the province of Agrigento.Portopalo has historically been a predominantly agricultural and fishing town, and in addition to tourism, the economic activity remains in these industries.On the eastern shore of the municipalities lies the Island of Capo Passero where the Spanish Fort still stands to this day.