Aegadian Islands and Pantelleria

<< Sicily

The Province of Trapani includes the Aegadian Islands (Isole Egadi), located just off the western coast of Sicily, and Pantelleria, an island located between Sicily and Tunisia. These islands are famous tourist destinations, and are known for their beautiful natural environment.

Aegadian Islands

The Aegadian Islands (Isole Egadi) is an archipelago located just off the western coast of Sicily, and form part of the Province of Trapani. These islands have been inhabited since ancient times, and were occupied several times over their history. The archipelago was a property of the Pallavicini-Rusconi family of Genoa until 1874. Now the islands are a famous tourist destination, especially the main island of Favignana.

✪ Favignana

Favignana is the largest of the Aegadian Islands, and serves as an administrative center of the archipelago. This island has served as a trading outpost and a fishing center for a long time, and now it is a famous summer destination known for the beauty of its beaches and natural environment. The main attractions of Favignana include various caves and several beaches, as well as some historic sites such as the San Giacomo Castle in the town, and the Castle of Santa Caterina at the center of the island.

Levanzo

Levanzo is one of the Aegadian Islands, located north of Favignana. The island has a small village and features beautiful beaches and clear waters. The main attraction on the island is the Grotta del Genovese, a cave adorned that was inhabited between 10,000 BCE and 6,000 BCE and houses an important series of well preserved paintings of animal from that period. This cave is one of the most important archaeological sites of the Upper Paleolithic in Sicily.

Marettimo

Marettimo is the westernmost of the Aegadian Islands. Regarded as a sacred place by various ancient peoples, this island was an important point to observe maritime traffic for centuries. Now Marettimo is known for its beautiful natural environment and rich flora and fauna. The island also houses some historic sites, such as the Arab-Norman Castle of Punta Troia.

Pantelleria

Pantelleria is an island in the Mediterranean Sea, located a little over 100 km southwest of Sicily, and around 70 km east of the coast of Tunisia. The island has been inhabited since the Neolithic, and it was for millennia a site of strategic importance thanks to its position. Pantelleria was ruled by the Carthaginians and the Romans, and in the Middle Ages it was taken by the Arabs, the Normans, and the Aragonese, and later followed the history of Sicily. The island has various historic attractions and archaeological sites, and it is a popular tourist destination. Pantelleria is also famous for its beautiful environment, and most of the island is part of the Pantelleria National Park.

Pantelleria Castle

The Pantelleria Castle is a fort located on the seafront of the town of Pantelleria. Originally a fortification built in the Early Middle Ages, the castle was greatly expanded by the Normans, and was later reworked several times. The castle was later used as a prison and military base. Now restored, the castle features imposing fortifications, and hosts an archaeological museum. This museum houses various archaeological findings from the island, including three well preserved Roman marble statues.

Specchio di Venere

The Specchio di Venere is a small volcanic lake located in the northern part of Pantelleria. The lake is one of the most famous tourist attractions of the island, and it is known for its beautiful clear waters and its hot springs. Various archaeological findings and ruins have been unearthed around the lake.

Archaeological Park of the Sesi

The Archaeological Park of the Sesi (Parco Archeologico dei Sesi) is an archaeological site that includes the ruins of various ancient tombs known as sesi. These consist of round or elliptical towers with sepulchral chambers inside, similar to the nuraghe of Sardinia, but smaller. Around a hundred of these structures have been found in Pantelleria.