The Beaches and what to see in Pantelleria

Thanks for sharing I love Pantelleria

Thanks for sharing Visit Pantelleria

Thanks for sharing I love Pantelleria

The Beaches and What to see in Pantelleria

Hiranin (Birds’ Island), when it was under the rule of the Phoenician, bint al – rion during the Arabic period, today its name is Pearl of the Mediterranean Sea or, simply, Pantelleria. It is closest to the Africa than to Sicily and it’s the bigger island among the little Sicilian islands.

Its volcanic origin is covered by the luxuriant Mediterranean plants, among these plants there are the grapevines from that it extracts the famous “Passito of Pantelleria”, a world appreciated wine. The coast is rocky, but there are accessible places in which you can pass through to go to the sea.

The sea is always see-through and it is full of marine fauna. Within the Island there are many reasons that incite you to do excursions: secondary volcanic phenomenon, natural small lakes and the most panoramic places of Pantelleria.

Although the beauty of Pantelleria is well-known all over the world, the tourism that is developed in this island has always respected the island nature. For these reasons many movie stars choose it as a holiday resort to enjoy sun, nature and serenity.

Pantelleria is freckled of little cubical buildings, the dammusi, low buildings with few settings, clear sign of Arabic domination which here settled for over two centuries. From the roof, the dome shows up, which is used to stabilize the building in case of earthquakes but especially to mitigate the building temperature, taking advantage of upward motions of hot air.

In the west north part of the island there are the famous “Sesi”, funerary temples of prehistorical population who lived in Pantelleria. Today they are about thirty, built with massive blocks of molten rock placed to shape the typical circular buildings. Within them, some spaces, dedicated to deceased, were obtained. Some researchers believe that here also characteristic rituals were performed, wherein deceased’s family, thanks to unusual gloom and herb, tried to get in touch with their beloved’s soul.

In the town of Pantelleria is even visible the “Castello di Barbacane” (Barbacane castle), built by Spanish during the fortification action of the island.

The Sea and the Beaches of Pantelleria

The rocky coast and the lack of sandy seashores let have a clear transparent sea, with a different graduated shading on the strength of the area. Many beach places are reachable by foot, but if you prefer to enjoy some exclusive place, it’s not a bad idea to rent a boat.

Cala Levante

Cala Levante is the most frequented place by tourists and the reason is easier said: the “Faraglione di Tracino” (Tracino Stack) and the “Arco dell’Elefante” (Elephant Arch) are the most representative places of Pantelleria, where cliffs smoothed by the sea receive the tourists in search of suntan.

Passed the Stack, “Cala Tramontana” starts, where there is the little “Cala Sutta Mattè”. “Cala Levante” and “Cala Tramontana” have fantastic sea bottoms, full of fishes that often swim among the swimmers’ legs: don’t forget the scuba mask if you want to see them in all their shiny colours. To the north there is the little village of Gadir, reachable by a picturesque street: here two tanks dig in a rock fill up naturally with hot water from the subsoil: it usually soaks in these tanks, and then restores with a good bath in the sea, in an out-and-out natural wellness route.

Punta Spadillo

Closeness of the lighthouse of “Punta Spadillo” there is the so-called Little Lake of the mermaids, a natural little lake that regenerates itself when the rough sea breaks against the rocks. Then you can arrive at Five Teeth Cala: the sharp rocks, that appear from the stretch of water, look like to a marine giant’s teeth, from which the name of the place.

The Northern part

In the northern part of Pantelleria there are Marine Ox Cala and Kattibugal. From here the most fascinating place of Pantelleria is reachable: the Venus Lake. It is nurtured by hot water sources, the lake takes incredible graduated shading: very clear in the centre of it and deep in the sides of it a cause of the presence of thermal mud. According to the olden here Venus prepared herself before meeting Bacchus, wine and naughtiness god.

On the West

On the West coast of Pantelleria there is “Scauri”, a little port, divided from the town and the mineral spring, which are reachable by foot and situated on “Punta Nikà”. Going on towards North, it will be surely relaxing a bath in “Cala dell’ Altura”, before arriving to “Punta Fram”. And so you arrive to “Mursia”, where there are even now prehistorical funerary structures of Pantelleria, with an enormous archeological preciousness.

The Southern part

In the southern part there is the beautiful place of “Ballata dei Turchi”, in the past it was the anchoring for the pirates who came in the island to predate it.

If you aren’t full yet of sea binges, sun and diving, you can’t miss the little coves near “Faraglione del Fico d’India” (prickly pear stack) , in “Punta Sciacazza”, and “Rocce del Formaggio” (cheese rocks), “Dietro Isola” and ,unavoidable, the “Grotta della Scarpetta di Cenerentola” (Cinderella’s light shoe cavern), which is reachable only with a boat or who is well-exercised can reach it by swimming.

Pantelleria, naturally.

The inside of Pantelleria has got fantastic mountain features, it is full of vegetation and natural routes which earn an half day excursion at least. The higher top, the “Montegna Grande”, exceeds 800 metres: hence you can get a glimps of a panorama on the island.

In lower heights there are “Monte Cibele” (Cibele mount), an out volcanic cone by now and “Piana Ghirlanda” (garland plane), a little upland which is covered in greenery. From “Kuddia Mida”, at about 500 metres from the sea level, there is an amazing view towards the “Lago di Venere” (Venus lake), and in days wherein there isn’t too hot and the view is very clear, you can see also “Capo Mustafà” in Tunisia.

Finally you cannot miss secondary volcanic phenomenon, like the dry bath and mineral spring, which are the reason so the old noble Roman decided to go to Pantelleria. A clear example of dry bath is in Saibi place: big jet of water vapor which goes in the cavern. But the sources are on the coast, in the southern part of the island: the water can exceed 50 Centigrade.

Historical Background of Pantelleria

Prehistoric population left clear marks of their past passed in the island: for example the “sesi”, curious circular building wherein the deceased were situated. Population of this period came in the island in search of “Ossidiana”, a sharp volcanic stone very important during the all old period. Pantelleria was colonized by the Phoenician, who made it an important seaport for all Sicily routes.

For the same reason the Carthaginian raced to conquer the island. Become Roman in 255 a.C. then the island was populated by different Christian colonies. Many marks remained from the Arabic period, for example names, of Middle Eastern origin, agriculture methods, up till the “dammusi”, typical short building of Pantelleria. In the following centuries Saracen pirates often got this island as a robbery land, leaving behind victims and ruins.

In the end of the nineteenth century it happened the last significant eruption which affected Pantelleria, with its opening situated about 5 km from the island. In the Second World War, Pantelleria was outpost of German soldieries and for this reason was bombarded hardly from the Anglo-American soldiers: among all the building presents in the island, only a few of them kept.

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The Beaches and What to see in Pantelleria

The Sea and the Beaches of Pantelleria

Pantelleria, naturally.

Historical Background of Pantelleria

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