Favignana
The solar one
Favignana is a bit like the grandmother we used to spend our summer holidays with.
The nice one, not the other. The one who grabbed our 2 cheeks with a smile to kiss them like good bread. You have it ?
Modest, authentic, friendly and generous, this island in the Aegadian archipelago shines off the coast of Sicily. Disconcerting, Favignana is not necessarily bewitching at first sight, but a few hours will suffice for you to fall under its spell.
Favignana is a bit like the grandmother we used to spend our summer holidays with. The nice one, not the other. The one who grabbed our 2 cheeks with a smile to kiss them like good bread. You have it ?
Modest, authentic, friendly and generous, this island in the Aegadian archipelago shines off the coast of Sicily. Disconcerting, Favignana is not necessarily bewitching at first sight, but a few hours will suffice for you to fall under its spell.
Under an eternal summer sun and mainly made up of arid land and maquis, Favignana is far from being an inhospitable region. With in particular its irresistible and bewitching turquoise sea. From the wild cove, to the mythical Cala Rossa or to the typical parasols of Lido Burrone, there is only a short leap to take to move on to the next beach.
Journey to the Center of the Earth
The exploitation of calcareous tuff goes well beyond the shores of Favignana, and with the Palermo aristocracy, where the stone has been used there to build many palaces over the centuries. The island is thus both made up of wide plains and voids caused by its extraction, thus bringing the power of its landscape. The many cavities, galleries and monoliths give it a totally unusual diversity of perspectives.
At the end of the day, the sweltering heat disappears with the arrival of the delicious Favonio,
the warm breeze from which Favignana takes its name. The other face of the island, that of gentleness, is then revealed. With your body soaked in the sun, you savor your Spritz in one of the many isolated beach bars with the impression of being at the end of the world.
At the end of the day, the crushing heat disappears with the arrival of the delicious Favonio, the warm little wind from which Favignana takes its name. The other face of the island, that of gentleness, is then revealed. With your body soaked in the sun, you savor your Spritz in one of the many isolated beach bars with the impression of being at the end of the world.
Then it’s time to head to the village for dinner.
The sun may have fallen, but the islanders are radiant with joviality.
They pose proudly in front of our lens, happily waving
at the rest of the family, the neighbor or the fishmonger friend nearby.
It is then time to go to the village for dinner. The sun has certainly fallen but the inhabitants of this island radiate joviality. They pose proudly in front of our lens, happily calling with a wave of the hand the rest of the family, the neighbor or the fishmonger friend not far away.
The pedestrian village of Favignana invites you to stroll and sit down on the terraces of its many cafes and restaurants to drink grappa with its inhabitants. While always observing from the corner of the eye, the ballet of life on the main piazza where a soft and happy enchanting melting pot of fishermen, children and Italian families on vacation gather around the evening gelato.
In Favignana, the passagieta continues, much to our delight.
When night falls, we get dressed up to go for a quiet walk with family members. We exchange the latest news and gossip with neighbors, we communicate with everyone, regardless of age or social background.
In Favignana, the passagieta continues for our greatest happiness. At nightfall, we make ourselves beautiful to go for a leisurely walk with the members of our family. We exchange the latest news and gossip with neighbors, we communicate with everyone, regardless of age or social background.
La Madrague
without Brigitte Bardot
As soon as you arrive on the island, you’ll be intrigued by this strange, majestic building on the harbor.
It’s the old cannery. It is impossible to capture the soul of Favignana without mentioning the highly ceremonial and typically Sicilian Mattanza .
Fishermen used to catch bluefin tuna using a skilful system of fixed nets, trap nets.
This fishery, which lasted for a millennium, ended up disappearing a few years ago.
The cannery, magnificently restored into a museum and cultural center, is a moving place that allows us to understand the very strong involvement and nostalgia of the inhabitants for this lost tradition.
To find out more, we invite you to browse the splendid project La main de l’homme by Sebastiao Salgado, as well as the documentary Le thon, la brute et le truand by Vincent Maillard.
Nicknamed the “Farfalle ” with its butterfly shape, Favignana spreads its flat wings
over the sea on either side of Mount Santa Caterina.
At the top of this backbone, a 1-hour walk from the port, the fort with its 360° view proudly overlooks the island’s 2 plains, each with its own distinct atmosphere.
2 islands in one, THE DREAM!
Nicknamed the “Farfalle ” with its butterfly shape, Favignana spreads its flat wings over the sea on either side of Mount Santa Caterina.
At the top of this spine, a 1-hour walk from the port, the fort with its 360° view proudly overlooks the island’s 2 plains, each with its own distinct ambience.
2 islands in one, THE DREAM!
To the east, Piana, with its lively village and most of the infrastructure.
To the west, Bosco, much wilder, rural and hilly, with a more refined “je ne sais quoi”. On this part of the island, mainly residential and less frequented, there are small confidential nuggets for eating and staying as well as beaches with a magical view of the island of Levanzo just opposite. Here, the hand of man has discreetly landed, shaping the landscape while respecting its environment.
A stone’s throw from the port, Palazzo Florio is another must-see place in Favignana. Designed by architect Giuseppe Damiani Almeyda in an eclectic Gothic-Liberty style, the palace was one of the residences of the famous Florio family, entrepreneurs of Calabrian origin who propelled Sicily into the industrial age.
An unusual visit is to the Giardino dell’Impossibile. A lush garden housing over
300 botanical species in the island’s former stone quarries.
A place that defies the laws of the wind, made “possible” thanks to Maria Grazia’s passion and tenacity
over the past 40 years.
A stone’s throw from the port, Palazzo Florio is another must-see place in Favignana. Designed by architect Giuseppe Damiani Almeyda in an eclectic Gothic-Liberty style, the palace was one of the residences of the famous Florio family, entrepreneurs of Calabrian origin who propelled Sicily into the industrial age.
An unusual visit is to the Giardino dell’Impossibile. A luxuriant garden sheltering more than 300 botanical species in the old stone quarries of the island. A place that defies the laws of the wind, made “possible” thanks to the passion and tenacity of Maria Grazia for 40 years.
Favignana is a popular destination with Italians for this raw, sincere land,
where Sicilian culture is still very much alive. Anchored in solid traditions, we love it for its delicious seaside atmosphere, its unusual landscapes, for the freedom to cycle around the island’s beaches, swim in this Caribbean-like sea, and feast on cuisine. tasty.
We can’t wait for next summer to go back to grandma’s!
Favignana is a popular destination for Italians for this raw and sincere land, in which the Sicilian culture is still terribly alive. Anchored in solid traditions, we love it for its delicious seaside atmosphere, its unusual landscapes, for the freedom to cycle around the island’s beaches, swim in this Caribbean-like sea, and feast on cuisine. tasty.
We can’t wait for next summer to go back to grandma’s!
Favignana is
9 km long by 4 km wide
Accessibility
Lodging capacity
Animation
Where is Favignana? Favignana is one of the 3 islands that together with the islands of Levanzo and Marettimo the Egades archipelago in north-west Sicily.
How to get to Favignana? 30-minute crossing by hydrofoil from the port of Trapani,
a 1-hour drive from Palermo.
How to get to Favignana? 30 minutes hydrofoil crossing from the port of Trapani, 1 hour drive from Palermo.
How to get around Favignana? Favignana is very flat, so it’s easy to get around by bike.
There are a number of rental companies (bike, car, scooter) in the port, including Noleggio Rita.
How to get around Favignana? Favignana being very flat, you can easily get around by bike. Many rental companies (bicycle, car, scooter) are on the port including Noleggio Rita .
Where to stay in Favignana? Most of the infrastructures are grouped together on the eastern part of the island, La Piana, where the main village is also located. The western part of the island, the Bosco, is more residential and untamed, although there are a few upscale accommodation and restaurant options.Some nice addresses we’ve spotted (but not all of them tested!):
Dimora Cala del Pozzo Dimora dell’Olivastro Cas’almare Il Baglio Sull’Acqua
Where to sleep in Favignana? Most of the infrastructures are grouped together on the eastern part of the island, La Piana, where the main village is also located. The western part of the island, the Bosco, is more residential and untamed, although there are a few upscale accommodation and restaurant options.Some nice addresses we’ve spotted (but not all of them tested!):
Dimora Cala del Pozzo
Dimora dell’Olivastro
Cas’almare
Il Baglio Sull’Acqua
Where to eat in Favignana?
In the village: El Pescador , the institution since 1974, Sicilian tradition recipes, handed down for generations. Quello che c’è cé , fresh and local products, worked with simplicity and refinement.
At Bosco, two other addresses with spectacular views of the neighboring islands of Marettimo and Levanzo and which mainly use products from their own farms:
Cibo, chiacchiere e vino , here fresh, natural, organic, fair trade, season, tradition, respect, nature are anything but a vague concept. Restaurant adjoining the hotel La Dimora Calla Del Pozzo.
Agriturismo l’Alencio , especially renowned for its meat, raised locally but also a delicious fish couscous, a tuna tartare that melts in your mouth.
The book to take in your suitcase? The Lions of Sicily by Stefania Auci, a novel that retraces the myth of the Florio family.
The song to include in your playlist? Dal giorno in cui sei nato tu by Andrea Laszlo de Simone.
And above all, where can you drink your Spritz in Favignana? There are a number of very nice options on the island, but to name just one, it would be A Leva – Sole with its relaxed atmosphere. At sunset, an impression of the end of the world with a view of the neighboring island of Levanzo.
If I had known, …
I would have bought beach slippers. Yes, yes… Yes, absolute fashion faux pas but you’ll thank us when you come out of the water with the approach of Bo Derek in James Bond.
I would have booked the ferry tickets in advance unless I wanted to do a report on the port of Trapani.
I would have taken a few more days to visit the neighboring islands of Levanzo and Marettimo , which are very distinct. Such a shame to be so close and to miss these nuggets.
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