The Egadi Islands

Situated off the west coast of Sicily, the Egadi Islands comprising Favignana, Levanzo Marettimo and Formica are in a maritime nature reserve. 

The area used to be an important centre for catching and processing tunny (or tuna) fish.  

Favignana

 We couldn't understand what all these huge old anchors were doing stacked up on the beach but a visit to the tunny museum enlightened us.

 Looking across the bay in the main town of Favignana towards the tunny museum. We did try to anchor here at one time but it was very shallow, very busy, underwater rocks and lots of tripper boats going in and out needing turning space - not a good place to be!

 The large boats used for catching the tunny. 

  

Old cans from when the fish was processed here.

 The canning room

 The vats in the ovens where the fish was cooked.

Detail of the old nets

A board showing how the fish were collected into huge nets called "mattanzas". These were laid in the channels between the islands. You can see how those huge anchors we saw on the beach were used to secure the nets.

Here you can see the entire net with many anchors along the sides .

 One of our favourite anchorages on the south coast of Favignana, a short dinghy ride and twenty minute walk across the island to the main town on the north coast.

 Visitors for breakfast!

Levanzo Island

 A beautiful, quiet spot.

 Colourful Levanzo town.

Here we booked a boat trip round to the caves where there were ancient paintings. You could only access the caves via their boat and with a guide.

 We were not allowed to take photos in the cave so these were taken of the information board.
An incredible place! These paintings drawn in charcoal and red ochre  were created in 7000BC.
Here you can clearly see figures representing woman, man and a pig complete with curly tail as well as other animals. To give an idea of scale, the pig was about 10cms snout to tail.

 

 Even older than that were the etchings in stone dating from 12000BC. Strange to be standing, almost touching, something that has been around for so long. Here you see the outline of a bison with fine horns. Amongst other animals there was a beautiful deer with its head turned and its legs showing movement.

In the cave there were also many stalactites and stalagmites. On the outside were strange multicoloured formations.

 The view as we walked across the island into town. This is Montagna Grossa with the Aragonese fort of Sta Caterina on the summit. In 30 degrees we did not venture up here for a closer look!

In classical times the island was known as Aegusa - the Goat island after a description by Odysseus telling of the large number of goats that grazed here. Apparently up until about 100 years ago there were extensive pine forest here but now it is mostly barren and dry.