Pantelleria

With an area of ​​eighty-four square kilometers, the island of Pantelleria (or Pantelleria, in Spanish) is one of the southern jewels of Italy. It belongs to the province of Trapani, in the area of Sicilia. But it is also about seventy kilometers from the African coast.

For this reason, its history has been as closely linked to the European world as it is to the Arab world. The latter named it Bent the Riah, meaning "the daughter of the wind". While the Italians have called it "the Pearl of the Mediterranean". All this will give you an idea of ​​how beautiful Pantelleria is. But, so that you know it better, we are going to tell you everything it offers you.

What is the island of Pantelleria like?

This island is nothing more than the emerged part of a great volcano. For this reason, rocks of this type abound in its soil. Likewise, its coasts are a succession of coves and cliffs between lava flows and Mediterranean-type flora. Later, we will talk about the natural wonders what's wrong with it.

But, now we are going to explain to you that it presents a Mediterranean climate very nice. This is because the strong winds that blow in it and that have given it its name in Arabic allow the temperatures to always be mild. It is especially appreciated in summer, when the heat really hits.

On the other hand, the island's beaches are not sandy, but volcanic rock and ash. But that does not make them less beautiful and pleasant. They have smooth platforms for you to lie down and sunbathe. Among them, those of Martingale, Balata of the Turks o the Faraglione.

As for the waters, Pantelleria stands out for its paradise sea. This has some spectacular seabeds, with meadows of Posidonia and corals (including the rare black coral). If you like scuba diving, you will find your ideal place on these coasts. You can even find remains of old shipwrecks such as amphoras or anchors.

Typical architecture of the island

Due to the double control that the Europeans and Arabs have exerted on the island, the traditional architecture that you will see in Pantelleria is based on both cultures. However, he has leaned more towards the second. Touring the fields of the island, you will see peculiar dry walls, whose function is to protect citrus groves, and also the so-called pantesque gardens. Both of them have African origin.

Also, your attention will be dammusi, name given to the typical houses of the island. They have a cubic shape with white domed roofs supported by arches. They make up the so-called peasant neighborhoods, which are a total of eleven and still keep their names in Arabic. For example, Khamma o Ghadir.

On the other hand, the island does not have large monuments. To a large extent, this is because they were destroyed during World War II. However, it has been preserved Barbacane castle, which is located at the mouth of the port of Pantelleria. It is a Renaissance-style fortress with an almost square floor plan and two towers, one in its parade ground and the other free-standing.

For a few years, it has housed the Archaeological Museum, where you can see the pieces found in the deposits of the island. The most important are the sesé park and the remains of the old Cossyra. If you visit this museum, pay special attention to the so-called three Pantelleria heads. These are marble heads dating from the first century after Christ and of enormous plastic beauty. They represent Julius Caesar, to the emperor Tito and Agrippina, wife of Germanicus and mother of Caligula.

By the way, this is not the only museum that you can see in Pantelleria. You also have the one of the Sea Sebastiano Tusa y the Punta Spadillo Volcanological. However, the main wonders that the island offers you have to do with its nature.

The imposing natural beauty of Pantelleria

Pantelleria is a small island. As we have told you, it has an area of ​​eighty-four square kilometers. Therefore, to move around it, you can rent a small car or even a scooter. However, it is also crossed by numerous historic trails that allow you to appreciate its nature in all its splendor.

Since some have winding routes, we advise you to do them with a map so as not to get lost. But, in any case, doing these routes will allow you to discover wonders like the ones we show you below.

Montaña Grande Natural Park

Also called pantelleria island national park, has an area of ​​approximately six thousand five hundred hectares that are classified into three zones. All of them have enormous natural and landscape value, but one also has historical and other agricultural values. In any case, if you go through it, you will see typical flora of mediterranean scrub like juniper and myrtle. But you will also find, in its highest areas, pines, holm oaks or heather.

precisely from the big mountain, which gives it its name, you have some impressive views of the sicilian channel and spectacular sunsets. As for the fauna, birds of great beauty nest in the park due to their colouring, such as the Cinciarella algerina or beccamoschino, but there are also reptiles like the horseshoe snake. Until not long ago, you could also see a kind of donkey native to the island. Sadly though, it has been completely extinct.

The Mirror of Venus and other thermal areas

With this poetic name is called a lake that is located in the north of the island. Like her, it is of volcanic origin and is fed by thermal sources. All this also gives it a peculiar color. You can bathe in it and receive the benefits that its mud and its thermophilic algae bring you.

It is not the only thermal point of Pantelleria. There is another one under the Great Mountain, which we just told you about. is the known Big Favara, which is reached by a hiking trail. Similarly, in the area of gadr there are open pits with temperatures around fifty degrees Celsius.

Lava flows, natural monuments and fertile plains

The best-known natural monument of Pantelleria is the so-called Elephant Arch. In fact, it is one of the symbols of the island. It is located in the northeast, close to Cala Levante. It owes its name to the fact that the rock seems to fall into the sea where it forms the arc and creates an image that, in effect, recalls the trunk of a pachyderm that is submerged in the water.

Actually, the cove where it is located is the result of a volcanic eruption and its shape is due to the fall of lava on the waters. But it is not the only area of ​​the island with lava flows. Spectacular is the Khagiar Mediterranean Slick, precisely, a three kilometer lava flow that has already been covered by abundant vegetation. It is also a place where you can see rabbits and, with a bit of luck, the well-known Greek tortoise. The zone of Balata of the Turks, which descends to the homonymous beach already mentioned and where there was an obsidian quarry.

On the other hand, the so-called Ghirlanda's Trowel it is also known as “the garden of Pantelleria”. It is a very fertile plain protected from the wind by mountains. The vines that produce the island's famous wine are grown here, among others, and are protected by the dry walls that we mentioned earlier.

But, in addition to appreciating all the natural wonders that Pantelleria offers you, you have to try its gastronomic delights. We don't need to remind you how well you eat in all Italy and the south is no exception.

Gastronomy of Pantelleria

We have already mentioned the wines that are produced on the island and that are famous throughout the Italy. Among them, the Passito, the Zibbibo and the Spumante. but also the popular Muscat, which is made with a variety of Muscat of Alexandria grape typical of Pantelleria. Also famous are capers that are obtained in their fields. Combined with the tumma cheese, also native, they make delicious salads.

As for the typical dishes, given its condition as an island, fish plays a fundamental role in them. Many of its varieties are made simply on the grill. But it also prepares a delicious cous cous accompanied by different vegetables. But, if we are talking about Italy, pasta dishes must abound. We recommend you try the amari ravioli, which are prepared with a filling of mint leaves and cottage cheese. It is also very good raw pantesca pesto. It is a recipe that calls for spaghetti, capers, olives and anchovies, as well as chili, sage and olive oil.

The influence in Pantelleria of the Arabic cuisine. For example, it is seen in the merghez, which is a kind of very spicy sausage with pepperoni. Finally, you can end your meal with sweets like cottage cheese, sugar and cinnamon ravioli or testing the mustache, which also comes from Africa. In your case, it has ingredients such as semolina, honey, cinnamon or candied orange.

In conclusion, we have explained everything you need to know to travel to Pantelleria, the beautiful island in the south of Italy. It only remains for us to tell you that it is such a wonderful place that it has been chosen as a vacation destination by many movie and soccer stars. Dare to meet her.