Pantelleria: 4 days in a trance of nature

Describing the island of Pantelleria always puts one in a bit of difficulty, because Pantelleria leaves few words. Its extraordinary faunal and floral freedom, its still being intact and uncontaminated both by the advent of massive urbanization and the fleets of mass tourism, represent an enormous advantage for the beauty of this island. Pantelleria is a wild island (in the best sense of the word) and must be experienced slowly; it must be savored and breathed calmly and carefully. For this reason, we have thought of creating a 4-day tour, proposing only one destination per day, provided it is fully experienced. Start the journey with us!

Day One: Acropolis and Sesi Archaeological Park We must always remember that Pantelleria boasts an ancient history, so it is appropriate to start dismantling the binomial Pantelleria = sea. This is why, for the first day, we propose two archaeological stops: the Acropolis of San Marco and Santa Teresa and the Sesi Archaeological Park.

The Acropolis of San Marco and Santa Teresa rises, as the name itself suggests, on the high part of the island, precisely on the hills of San Marco and Santa Teresa, and testifies to the island's great Roman past. Through careful archaeological studies, it was possible to discover that Cossyra (the Latin name for Pantelleria) was a true residential center, where one can encounter the remains of ancient defensive fortifications, residues of terraces used for cultivation, and numerous ceramic finds. The Heads of Pantelleria, marble sculptures depicting Julius Caesar, Antonia Minor, and Titus, are very important. Warmed by the sun, the Acropolis offers the great opportunity to dialog and experience the island's millennial history. Still focusing on the reconstruction of Pantelleria's history, we move to the Sesi Archaeological Park.

Exploiting the island's lava rise, one can go even further back in history and instantly reach 2000 BC. The Sesi Archaeological Park, in fact, collects the remains of an ancient population, of Libyan origin, which settled on the Sicilian island around 2000 BC. Within the Park, some remains of the defensive walls are still visible, but above all the Sesi, which are funerary mausoleums in the shape of a truncated cone and elliptical plan that were devoted to the burial of citizens.

In detail, the Sese Grande or Sese del Re is particularly famous, built for the village chief, which still dominates the island with all its 5 meters in height, its 12 corridors, and its 12 cells.

Day Two: Lake Specchio di Venere (Mirror of Venus) After a cure for the mind and knowledge, Pantelleria offers an extraordinary cure for the body. This is undoubtedly represented by the Lago Specchio di Venere.

The natural basin, in fact, rises in the crater of an extinct volcano and is recognized by all as an open-air Spa. The bottom of the lake is entirely composed of mud, rich in the typical minerals of an island of volcanic origin, and the water is at higher-than-average temperatures, which favors natural hydrotherapy. Due to its therapeutic benefits, it is recommended to stay in the water for a few minutes, then cover the body with mud, and allow it to dry naturally, before washing off naturally with the lake waters itself. Your body will thank you!

Moving towards the west coast, one encounters the laghetto delle Ondine (little lake of the Ondines), where sea waters collect in a basin created by the erosive action of the waves, forming an emerald pool. Even further south, one cannot miss another symbol of the island, the Arco dell’Elefante (Elephant Arch), a rock pachyderm that plunges into the sea with its trunk. The latter experience is particularly suggestive for children and their immense imagination.

Day Three: Balata dei Turchi The third day of this trip to Pantelleria is dedicated to its crystal-clear sea and its wild coast sheer above the water. Iconic, in these terms, is the Balata dei Turchi (Turks' Pavement), another great symbol of Pantelleria.

The Balata dei Turchi is an inlet located along the southern area of the Pantelleria coast and is so named because of its stone slabs (lastroni di pietra), up to 300 meters high, perched sheer above the sea. Its name, in fact, derives from Balat, which in Arabic means stone slab, and it establishes itself as a unique way to appreciate the wild nature that makes up the island. The Balata, in detail, is a true platform on which bathers can lie down and dive, from there, freely into the crystal-clear waters that make the island unique. It is reachable on foot, through a 4 km path that is quite demanding, but which offers all the wild beauty of Pantelleria. This is an ideal destination for a free and complete day at the sea!

Day Four: the Favare Pantelleria, as we have said, is an island of volcanic origin, and testimony to this activity is provided by the Favare.

These are fumaroles, whose jets of water vapor escape from the crevices of the rocks, reaching as high as 100 °C, coloring the rocks red and emitting a strong smell of sulfur. The most known and evocative is certainly the Favara Grande: located on a plateau on the south side of the Montagna Grande and which evokes the image of the entrance to the kingdom of Hephaestus, God of fire who, according to Greek myth, had his forge in the bowels of Etna.

Not far away, towards the north, are the "stufe" (stoves), caves that are a kind of natural sauna where vapors exhaling from the subsoil are channeled and reach about 37 °C in temperature. One of the most notable is the Grotta di Benikulà, in the Sibà district, on the ridge of Montagna Grande, divided by a low wall into two chambers: outside, the frigidarium, with small stone seats and a great view of the Monastero plain; inside, the smaller chamber with a deep fissure from which hot steam escapes.

Many users recommend... For overnight stays in Pantelleria, many users recommend the Pantelleria Dream Resort.

Located in Cala Tramontana, near the Arco dell'Elefante, the resort offers a total immersion in the Pantelleria scenario. Occupying 4 hectares completely cultivated with olive trees and vines, it offers the availability of relaxing pools overlooking the sea and cuisine that embraces the flavors of the sea and brings them to the table. The structure offers the possibility of pick-up and drop-off, as well as providing free parking and car rental to get around the island. A massage area is also available. The cost is in the medium/high range but absolutely in line with the services provided.

How to get to Pantelleria? The simplest way to get to Pantelleria is to fly to Trapani and from there take a ferry which will take you to your destination in about two hours. The island has a small civil airport served by national flights, including low-cost, departing from Sicily and the main Italian cities. A local bus connects the airport to the city of Pantelleria.

For these holidays, then, Pantelleria is undoubtedly the right place! Photo credit: I Love Pantelleria