This itinerary takes us to a series of magical Sicilian islands, all rising up out of the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean sea, between Sicily and the African coast.
We begin our Sicilian island cruise sailing in the direction of Favignana, one of the islands of the Egadi archipelago. Steadily observing our arrival, the 19th century Palazzo Florio was built as elegant residence for the powerful Palermo-born industrialist, Ignazio Florio, who bought the entire group of islands from the Marquis Pallavicino in 1874 and was responsible for the expansion of both Favignana's tuna fishing industry and its tuff exportation trade, until the 1970's the two mainstays of the island's economy. The old tuna factory close to the port and the quarries overlooking Cala Rossa testify to Florio's lasting impact on the island. Tracing the coastline, by land or from the sea, visitors soon come across the gorgeous beaches of Cala Azzurra and Cala Rotonda. The trip by boat around the island is an absolute must for those wishing to explore Favignana's numerous sea caves and spectacular seabed.
From Favignana, we head to the black pearl of the Mediterranean: Pantelleria. Famous for its extraordinary natural landscape, for its capers, passito desert wine and its dammusi, the traditional island dwellings, Pantelleria is rich in underground treasures, such as the thermal waters which bubble up in to the sea at Cala Gadir, and the health inducing mud of the Specchio del Venere lake, which, together with the steam rising up from the inland favare and Pantelleria's pitch black rock, all testify to the island's volcanic origins. From the sea, the caves and stunning rock formations which characterize the island's coastline are all clearly visible.
As we approach Lampedusa, the remotest of Sicily's islands, the color scheme changes quite radically, the sunlight bouncing off the dazzling white sand of the island's beaches. Lampedusa is home to the Spiaggia dei Conigli, beach situated directly opposite the tiny islet with which it shares its name. This beautiful little beach is where the Caretta Caretta turtles come each year, using it as nursery where to deposit their eggs. These animals, often spied in the waters off Lampedusa, can be best observed in the island's WWF Turtle Recovery Center.
The last stage of our island hopping tour takes us to Linosa, the origins of which are immediately evident in its dark black rock and the magnificent form of Monte Vulcano, the extinct volcano which dominates the island. Linosa is a favourite summer holiday destination, famous for its crystal clear waters and its seabed, inhabited by an incredible variety of marine life.
