The Archipelago of the Egadi Islands, overall vision

During a hunting trip on the prairie between Levanzo and Favignana a group of humans approaches a deer that will be bordered by unaware in a small mirror of water. Suddenly a flock of birds gets up in flight; The deer escapes abruptly in the opposite direction, stands out a jump and fortunately dodged the arrows moving away. This time the fate was favorable to the deer, even if hunters will have the opportunity to try again.

It could have been concluded like this, circa 12.000 Years ago, a hunting scene that an observer could have scrutinized from above what today is the Monte Santa Caterina on the island of Favignana; Maybe to reproduce it later in artistic form, Through the caves and rock paintings, similar to those depicted in Grotta del Genovese Levanzo.

Sicily at that time was preparing to get out of the long glacial winter, lasted about 60.000 years, which he had held with a thick full of ice whole continents, lowering the sea level up to about 120-130 m below the current level. Favignana and Levanzo, then reachable on foot, They were an appendix of Sicily, while in the distance Marettimo emerged, majestic and lonely, from the sea.

We still have to wait a few thousand years before the sea, Following the global warming and subsequent widespread dissolution of the glaciers, reach the current level by surrounding Levanzo and Favignana.

And so already about 8.000 Years ago tuna benches, Also represented in the Genoese cave, driven by the unstoppable motion of the currents from the mouths of Gibraltar, they moved fast, without apparent effort, in the channel between Favignana and Levanzo, swimming on imposing forests made up of plants and marine algae which in the meantime colonized The shallow bottom of the archipelago, modeling them and contributing to the construction of a unique and inimitable submerged landscape.

Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo, Puts west to the open sea, today they represent the outpost of the limestone reliefs of western Sicily e, Together with the islets of Formica and Maraone, they form the second group of Sicilian minor islands by extension.

Marettimo

Cited in antiquity by Polybius as He will nèsos (the sacred island), called Maritima by the Romans and subsequently Malitimah from the Arabs, The island of Marettimo, steep and wild, it is the most distant from the Sicilian coast. C

On the summit of Pizzo Falcone, which reaches almost 700 m, It is the highest in the entire Archipelago of the Egadi. The coast exposed to the west overflows overlooking the sea with high and imposing cliffs, against which the waves that unload the energy accumulated here after having traveled for hundreds of kilometers without finding any obstacles.

At the base of the limestone limestone small coves, bathed by turquoise and transparent waters, interrupt the continuity of the coastal profile and alternate with karst caves with evocative names (bombard, Perciata, Crib, etc.), where the nun seal is around and regularly nests one of the most mysterious marine birds, The bird of storms.

The interior is traveled by perfectly treated and reported paths and mule tracks, showing the least known aspect of the island. Innerpying in steep slopes, in a esplanade to about 250 m of altitude, appears in the locality "Romanian houses" a military building that is told was built as a lighthouse by Sesto Pompeo in 36 A.C.. Nearby, probably sheltered from the incursions of the pirates, It was erected by the Basilian monks of the Norman age (XI-XII century) A Byzantine church.

The climb to the top of Pizzo Falcone continues for about 2 ore, through steep slopes, Fitti woods and intense perfumes of thyme, Oregano and rosemary, spread by sudden and pleasant gusts of marine breeze. On the top, from a series of grassy crests, The surrounding landscape is dominated.

The glance is absolutely unique: turning the look lower, The promontory of Punta Troia in the north and Bassana tip to the south, immersed in a sea of a thousand shades, mark the limits of the eastern coast of the island. Here the houses of the only inhabited center are concentrated, the port of the fishermen and the latte of the hydrofoils. Looking in the direction of the Sicilian coast, the silhouettes of Favignana and Levanzo are recognized e, On clear days, Monte Erice ends in the distance whose summit hosts, protected by solid walls, The homonymous and famous medieval village.

Levanzo

With a surface just 6 kmq, Levanzo is the smallest of the Egadi islands. Call from the Greeks Phorbantia, probably for the abundant amount of grass, The island develops in length From Cala Dogana to Capo Grosso with a coastal profile reminiscent of a cusp addressed to the north. A population of about 200 inhabitants and the virtual absence of a road network (A single road crosses it from north to south) has allowed the island to maintain its integrity and a remarkable landscape beauty. Cala Dogana To the south it is a cove with crystal clear waters framed by the white houses of the inhabited center and partly protected by the small pier of the marina. To the west, Beyond Punta Pesce, Faraglione appears, A rocky rock meeting and home of a rowdy colony of seagulls. Still to the north the coast turns high and wild up to Punta del Genovese, where the grotto homonymous, One of the most important archaeological sites in Italy, with its engravings dating back to the last phase of the glacial era (circa 12.000 Years ago) and more recent rock paintings. Subsequently, the cliff is curious after the Sorci tip, opening up in the vast inlet of Cala Tramontana, Avoided in the sides by euphorbia cushions with cangiant shades, Associated in the lower stain with Cisto, thyme and helichrys.

Towards Capo Grosso, and beyond after having dubbed it, The coast presents itself with high cliffs overlooking the sea of extraordinary suggestion and beauty. QUete waters were theater in 241 A.C.. of an epic battle between the two superpowers of the world then known, Romans and Carthaginians. The clash ended the First Punic War, marked the decline of the Carthaginian power, He paved the way for the Roman Empire and probably decided not only the fate of the world of that time but also those of the centuries to come. Testimonies of this war event are the numerous archaeological finds, as still in lead strains and rostri Roman age, kept in the surrounding seabed Capo Grosso.

Ant and Maraone

Along the route that connects Levanzo to Trapani, Two small islets emerge from the submerged forests of Posidonia, Ant and Maraone, Components of law of the Egadi archipelago. The islet Maraone, completely uninhabited, is the smallest, while the islet Formica It is a handkerchief of land that has been inhabited over the centuries starting from the Phoenicians. Seat of ancient buildings that housed an old tonnara no longer active, the islet, private property, Today also houses a small museum, An ancient church of the '300, A Spanish castle in the restoration phase and the recovery community founded by Father Eigio.

Favignana

Favignana, The largest of the Egadi islands, It is a limestone platform interrupted in the central part by a mountain range that with Mount Santa Caterina slightly exceeds 300 m of height. A "butterfly on the sea" defined it, for its characteristic form, The Sicilian artist Salvatore Fiume in a famous manifesto of the 1970s. Note as Egusa from the Latins for the conspicuous presence of goats, The current name derives from Favonio, hot wind that affects the mild climate.

Punta Sottile, The western offshoot of the island, it is manned by beyond 150 years from the homonymous lighthouse that fulfills, with its 48 m of height and its particular illuminating apparatus, The task of indicating the route not only to boats and ships but also to aircraft. Continuing on the southern side, The coast shows a profile characterized by almost circular coves (Cala Rotonda and Cala Grande), sandy inlets (Marasolo, Calamoni, Ravine, Cala d'Azur) rocky islets (Preveto, Galera and Galeotta), shelter of colonies of seagulls.

Punta Marsala in the south and Punta Calarossa north delimit the eastern coast of the island and keep a true environmental and naturalistic treasure with strong contrasts: Cala Buue Marino a toponym that suggests how in the past the sightings of the nun seal were frequent in this area.

The fresh and crystalline waters in front of the cliff, beaten by strong currents, and the splendid seabed, covered with prairies of Posidonia and coral sandy lenses, they manifest themselves in all variants of turquoise.

In the near hinterland the characteristic architectures of the limestone quarries (improperly called "tuff") testify to the hard work and the effort of generations of islanders. The material, Extract and cut into singing (blocks), It was marketed throughout Sicily and in northern Africa. Some abandoned quarries have been used over time by the inhabitants of the island such as hypogeum gardens and gardens of extraordinary beauty, And they have also been destined in recent times in hotels, Accommodations and exhibition areas. However, still today the blocks of this ductile stone continue to live in works of craftsmanship, shaped by the passion of local artists. The northern coast of the island opens with the rocky beach of Cala Rossa, Certainly the most beautiful of the EAADI and favorite destination for tourists and travelers.

Once Punta San Nicola has been overcome, a deep inlet opens that houses the inhabited center of Favignana. To the west stands the high and steep cliff of Punta Faraglione immersed in the waters of the narrow channel that separate it from Levanzo.

The exploitation of the quarries and the tuna tuna tuna have represented the main economic and productive realities of the island. Described for the first time about 2.500 years ago and practiced by the Phoenicians, by the Carthaginians and the Romans, It is to the Arabs that the inhabitants of the island owe the organization and efficiency of the tonnara, As well as the words and songs that for centuries have cadenced the hard and tiring work of the tonnaroti in the final moments of the slaughter. The Florio transformed at the end of the 1800 The tonnara of Favignana in a flourishing industrial activity.

From the 2007 The tonnara is no longer active. The ancient black boats and rusty anchors will not take, perhaps, never the sea again, But the historical memory and traditions continues by visiting the extraordinary building of the Florio plant, recently restored and adapted for museum exhibitions dedicated to the tuna chain.

The Marine Protected Area

L’ Marine Protected Area Aegadian, established with D.M. of the 27 December 1991, It includes the islands of Favignana, Levanzo, Marettimo and the islets of Formica and Maraone. Pursues the purposes of the protection and enhancement of the marine environment, scientific research, environmental education and promotion of sustainable development. Con 53.992 has and 74 km of coastline, It is the largest reserve in Europe.

It is divided into four areas with a different level of protection.

Zester of of full protection (2% of the total surface) It affects the stretch of sea in the west of the island of Marettimo and the mirror of the sea surrounding Maraone. There are bathing and, subject to authorization, The underwater guided tours carried out by the resident immersion centers, The navigation of the boats of the residents and the guided tours on board the naval units of the resident operators.

Of Zona B of general protection (5% total) It is interested in the stretch of sea surrounding Faraglione tip in Favignana, The west side of the island of Levanzo, the mirror of the sea surrounding the islet of Formica e, a Marettimo, The two stretches of sea between P.ta Bassana and P.ta Libeccio and between P.ta Mugnone and P.ta Troia. Bathing is allowed, free sailing to sail, remi, Pedals or with electric engines, Underwater guided tours carried out by the resident immersion centers, Underwater diving prior authorization. Are also allowed, subject to authorization, Recreational fishing and artisanal professional fishing, anchor navigation within i 500 m from the coast (to residents and equivalent), mooring with sailing units; beyond i 500 m free navigation is also allowed to non -residents. In zone B of Marettimo within i 500 m from the coast are authorized daily to navigation and anchoring up to 40 naval units owned by non -residents.

The zona c partial protection (41% Del Total affects the east sides of Levanzo and Marettime all Favianana. Bathing is allowed, free navigation and anchoring outside the seabed of environmental interest, underwater guided tours e, subject to authorization, individual dives, mooring, recreational fishing (including the withdrawal of curls for residents only) and small professional fishing.

The area D protection (52% total) includes the remaining stretch of sea between the islands. They are allowed, subject to authorization, also the fishing and large circuation fishing activities. In the entire protected marine area, underwater fishing is prohibited in apnea and the use of water bikes.

The main projects carried out by the AMP

Positioning of anti -Milling and repopulating "bollards", To reduce the illegal train under the coast that damages the seabed;
Establishment of mooring fields, To avoid damage to the seabed due to the anchors of pleasure boats, However, ensuring the stop in the most beautiful coves:
Project “Looks of the sea ", for monitoring protected species with the involvement of local fishermen;
Brand for the environmental certification of tourist services (receptivity, catering, rental, guided tours, passenger transport, fishing, diving), already issued to beyond 50 operators;
Foca Monaca Observatory in the Castle of Punta Troia in Marettimo;
First aid center for sea turtles in Favignana;
Pon security for video surveillance of the whole archipelago;
Research and monitoring projects with ENEA, ISPRA and University of Palermo;
Information and prevention at sea, con 5 Naval units operating every day in summer;
AMP guides on boats that carry out passengers to and from the islands.