Small guide to give you an idea of possible itineraries.
Let's drop the hawsers at Balestrate, located halfway along the long golden beach overlooking the Gulf of Castellammare, in the heart of the town of the same name and overlooking its recently renovated seafront. Equidistant and easily reachable from nearby Palermo (30 km) and Trapani (65 km), it is located in a coastal stretch full of beautiful and comfortable beaches, and in the center of an area with a well-known food and wine and seaside tradition. In the evening and night Balestrate lights up with music and events in the square and along the main Via della Madonna del Ponte. If you happen to be in June, and precisely on the 29th, you can participate in the "fish festival" in honor of St. Peter, where it is possible to taste all the local catches for free.
We sail to the Scopello tuna fishery, it is one of the most important and ancient in all of Sicily; it was built no earlier than the 13th century and significantly expanded by the Sanclemente family during the 15th and 16th centuries. It then passed to the Society of Jesus and finally to the Florio family.
We continue sailing along the coast, discovering the wonderful Zingaro reserve to land in San Vito Lo Capo, a small seaside resort in north-western Sicily famous for the beach overlooking a sheltered bay dominated from above by Monte Monaco. In the centre, the Sanctuary of San Vito (15th century) is a structure with Arab-Norman architecture. Arab-Norman influences are also evident in the tiny Chapel of Santa Crescenzia, on the main road leading out of the city, and in the Torrazzo, a circular tower.........
............and then we sail to reach
The Egadi archipelago, located a few miles from Trapani, is made up of the islands of Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo, the islet of Formica and the rock of Maraone. Crystal clear waters, very lush and diverse marine flora and fauna. These characteristics make it a very popular tourist destination for snorkelling and scuba diving enthusiasts. Likewise, these are the perfect ingredients for those who want to go on holiday full of sun, sea, uncontaminated nature and relaxation. In order to preserve the natural beauty of the archipelago, the Area was created Marina
Protected (AMP) of the Egadi Islands. To date it is the largest marine reserve in Europe.
Favignana
It is the main one of the three islands. It has a small tourist and commercial port that blends perfectly with the village with classic Mediterranean architecture: buildings with white walls and windows overlooking the blue and green. In the evening, when the lights come on, it offers a breathtaking landscape.
The island is mainly flat, so it lends itself to being visited on a bicycle. The most beautiful coves: Cala Azzurra and its fine golden sand, Cala Rossa and its crystal clear waters, the cliff of Grotta Perciata, Previto islet, Cala Rotonda, Bue Marino......When traveling you will certainly enjoy glimpses enchanting views of the sea, beaches and coves that blend with the rich vegetation of the mainland.
We cannot fail to mention Cala San Nicola, chosen as the island's landing place already in Punic times. In some of the numerous caves on the site it is still possible to see traces dating back to past eras, from the Punic to the early Christian era: niches, crosses engraved on the rock and writings that are now almost illegible. You could then take a trip to the Bagno delle Donne, a nymphaeum built in Roman times, or to the various necropolises from the Byzantine era. You will thus be able to take a journey through time and trace the origins of the island.
As a last stop in Favignana, you cannot miss visiting the former Florio factory, one of the most important industries for tuna conservation. It is the largest maritime museum in Europe. The visit allows you to learn about the history of the Florio family and the factories where the equipment, anchors and boats were stored.
For trekking enthusiasts, however, we recommend the possibility of climbing to the top of Mount Santa Caterina, to admire the splendid 360' panorama of the Egadi Islands.
Levanzo
It is the smallest island in the archipelago and the least inhabited, which has allowed it to preserve its natural habitat almost intact. The combination of limestone rocks and numerous caves ensures a landscape that is nothing short of extraordinary. The coves of Levanzo, Cala Fredda, Cala Minnola, Cala Tramontana are in fact the ideal destination for those who love the sea and uncontaminated nature. Genovese Cave
Among the most important complexes of wall figures in Italy and one of the best known in the world. The first traces of human presence on the site date back to Prehistory and more particularly to the Paleolithic and Neolithic years. In fact, on the walls of the caves there are various paintings and engravings.
Another unmissable stop is the site of Cala Minnola, a fish processing plant dating back to Roman times.
Marettimo
Among the Egadi islands, it is the furthest from Trapani and certainly the most solitary and wild. It is one of the most beautiful and uncontaminated natural paradises in Sicily: white cliffs, caves and breathtaking seabeds. Then take advantage of the possibility of taking a tour of the island on a sailing boat to discover the various natural beauties: the Camel Cave, Punta Troia and its marvelous castle built by the Spanish in the 17th century, the Thunder Cave, Punta Mugnone or even the Cretazzo shoal.
The small port is set in the village of Marettimo, made up of white houses with colored windows that extend towards the sea. The landscape is characterized by various hills and mountains, of which the highest is Mount Falcone (686 m). In Marettimo it is as if time has stopped: there are no cars, but only stony paths that allow you to go trekking. Here too the flora and fauna are very rich: typically Mediterranean plants and herbs are home to wild rabbits, deer and birds of prey of different kinds.
Also in this case the island reserves us archaeological wonders, such as the site of Case Romane. The structure characterized by large arches dates back to Roman times and was subsequently converted into a convent.
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