Egadi Islands
The Egadi archipelago is located at the western tip of Sicily, a few miles from Trapani, and comprises the islands of Favignana, Levanzo, Marettimo, the islet of Formica, and the rock of Maraone. The Egadi islands are nestled in beautiful, crystal-clear waters and are home to a rich and diverse marine flora and fauna. These characteristics make this archipelago a popular destination for snorkeling, diving, and sailing enthusiasts. The natural beauty of the waters around Favignana, Levanzo, and Marettimo extends to the mainland as well. For those who enjoy nature walks, the Egadi islands boast lush vegetation, including endemic plants with medicinal properties, while birdlife is particularly important. To preserve the archipelago's natural beauty, the Egadi Islands Marine Protected Area (MPA), the largest marine reserve in Europe, was recently established. Administratively, the Egadi islands are part of the municipality of Favignana, and have a total of 4300 residents (2011).
Favignana , "the great butterfly on the sea," as painter Salvatore Fiume called it in the 1970s, is the capital and largest island of the Egadi archipelago. The island was known in ancient times by various names, such as Aponiana, Katria, Gilia, Aegusa in Latin, or Auegusa. Its current name, Favignana, dates back to the Middle Ages and is thought to derive from the name of the west wind, Favonio. Due to its geomorphological conformation, the island offers both beaches and caves. Favignana is the perfect destination for those who love seaside resorts, characterized by clear, transparent waters. The Favignana coast offers a variety of locations to suit everyone's tastes: there are beaches with fine, golden sand, such as Cala Azzurra, Lido Burrone, and Calamoni; Or the charming sand and pebble coves located in the Punta Lunga, Preveto, Faraglioni, and Punta Sottile areas, where you can enjoy breathtaking sunsets of rare beauty, where the sky is tinged with marvelous colors. Numerous areas also offer picturesque coves perfect for snorkeling. The famous Cala Rossa is particularly noteworthy, offering both rocks and sand nestled in a sea that ranges from azure to light blue. Numerous underwater experiences can also be enjoyed in the splendid seabeds of Favignana, Marettimo, Levanzo, Maraone, and Formica.
salto di un delfino con lo sfondo di favignana
Nuotare nel blu dipiunto di blu
Tramonto su Favignana
salto di un delfino con lo sfondo di favignana
Levanzo era conosciuta nell’antichità con vari nomi come Buccina, Forbantia e presso i geografi arabi col nome di Djazirat ‘al Yâbisah (“l’Arida”). Riguardo l’origine dell’attuale nome dell’isola vi sono varie ipotesi: potrebbe derivare dalla metodologia di approvvigionamento idrico impiegato sull’isola, consistente nella secolare leva applicata all’unico pozzo della spiaggia situato a Sud, da qui “leva in su”.
La sua conformazione geomorfologica offre soprattutto grotte, molte delle quali di interesse storico archeologico, prima fra tutte la famosa Grotta del Genovese.
Spiagge, grotte e attività turistiche
La più piccola fra le tre isole delle Egadi, offre suggestive e appartate spiaggette di sassi e sabbia localizzate lungo il sentiero che porta al Faraglione. Nella parte sud-est dell’isola il visitatore potrà apprezzare e godere le splendide acque di due cale, raggiungibili sia da terra che da mare: Cala Fredda, contraddistinta da una spiaggia di sassi e un comodo scivolo, e la più selvaggia Cala Minnola. Per gli appassionati di immersioni, Levanzo offre un itinerario archeologico-subacqueo molto allettante: tra i 27 e 30 mt di profondità tra Cala Minnola e Punta Altarella si trovano i resti di un relitto romano, una cinquantina di anfore vinarie e frammenti di vasellame di ceramica a vernice nera risalenti al I a.C.
A cala fredda l'acqua è calda
una delle più belle calette di levanzo
Navigazione verso Levanzo
A cala fredda l'acqua è calda
Marettimo was known in ancient times by various names, including Iera ("the sacred") and by Arab geographers as Djazirat Malîtmah. The island's current name may derive from the fusion of the words mare (sea) and timo (thyme), a hypothesis that derives from the island's abundance of thyme. It is the most mountainous, wooded, and geographically remote of all the islands in the Egadi archipelago.
Marettimo is the wildest and most pristine of the Egadi Islands. Thanks to its remoteness, the rugged nature of the mountains, and the minimal human impact on the environment, it preserves a precious wealth of vegetation and fauna, where rare species almost unique to the Mediterranean have managed to thrive. This richness makes it an unmissable destination for all nature lovers and hikers, thanks to the trails created by the forestry service. Marettimo is rich in caves, both above and below ground, with approximately 400 of them visitable on a tour of the island. The sea caves are its pride and joy.
Navigazione verso Marettimo
Tramonto su Marettimo
In navigazione verso Favignana
Navigazione verso Marettimo