ABOUT PANTELLERIA

Henry Quartier Bresson said of Pantelleria : “The most beautiful photo doesn’t do it justice”

We won’t reveal all our secrets here but we highly invite our guests to come to Pantelleria with the intension of exploring its magnetic land. Pantelleria is an alive source of Nature, history and traditions. Time here seemes to have stopped a while ago and THAT makes it the gem it is today.

introduction

The island of Pantelleria is geographically closer to Tunisia than Sicily. Its strategical position in the straight of Sicily has written its history and its cultural traditions. The volcanic rich soil is the wealth of the locals and has designed the island it is today. “i Panteschi” (the inhabitants of Pantelleria) will tell you the island is more of farmers than fishermen. The volcanic soil make it an extremely fertile land. While fishing has is very often dangerous due to heavy seas. Hot springs, fumaroles reveal their therapeutic properties since as long as men has stepped on it and is today accessible to all of us.

Dammusi are traditional houses only found on the island of Pantelleria. Its unique architecture has been developed as a response to extreme hot and dry climate of the island. Dammusi are typically characterised by thick lava walls, small windows, and domed roofs channeling rain water to underground cisterns. The island being a protected area, still today these technics has been conserved even if adapted to modern living.

Some sites may seem uneasy to reach but the reward of the journey has no price. Laghetto delle ondine is a unique experience depicting by itself what Pantelleria is. Wild, hostile, dry, warm, powerful but also so beautiful unique, magical and poetic. Some natural lakes in the volcanic shore gets filled up with the sea water and make you feel like you are swimming on the moon.

As you fly over the island and look down you will notice these stone circles with often one or two trees inside. The Giardino Pantesco or Giardino Arabo is a circular garden of about 4 to 5 meters high walls protecting the trees from the wind and guaranteeing its precious fruit. The volcanic stone retains humidity and creates a perfect micro climate for the citrus trees to survive on this hostile windy land. This unique architecture feature only existing in Pantelleria is the only man built solution existing since centuries allowing the production of lemons, orange, cedro.

The shores, the cliffs, the Cale e Calette of Pantelleria may be dramatic with their black burning volcanic stones. But the water is so clear , transparent and inviting. With its thermal currents all-round the sea will surprises you . It may be a challenge to access certain “caletta” but the reward will be there. What’s rare and special is not easy to get!

Old harbours like Gadir, Cala Tramontana, Cala Levante, Scauri harbor and Lido shuruq are easy access for the slowest days!

The cave of Benikula produces volcanic vapours reaching 50 degrees in the summer and winter. A natural spa, free accessible night and days, all year.

NO BEACH ISLAND

If you like to roll yourself into sand, Pantelleria may not be your island! Charming old harbours like Cala tramonta, Cala Gadir host comfortable wooden or concrete decks for lazy sunbathers. Adventurous souls will prefer the hike down Cala Nikà, Laghetto delle ondine or Cala cinque Denti (…) to set their sea-towel for the day. The parti

The Lago di Venere translated as the Lake of Venus is nested in a crater of a Volcano. Rich in minerals, it is a unique ecosystem in the world that has not revealed all its secrets yet. Its deep dark mud is known for having therapeutic properties. Hot springs boiling up to 50 degrees make it a true open air spa surrounded by a lush vegetation of Mediterranean plants.

PATRIMONIO CULTURALE DELL’ UNESCO

It is not easy to cultivate in Pantelleria! natural elements are both helping and limiting farming. Such that the same farming technics have been preserved since the roman times. Terraces, “vite ad alberello” are still the common method for cultivating vines today. Discover the Zibibbo, the main grape resilient plant resisting the long months of draught and producing the DOP Passito wine.

HISTORY & ARCHEOLOGY

Strategically located in the straight of Sicily, the island has always been at the crossroad of trades and conquests. The first inhabitants of the island, Phoenicians called Sesioti date back from 5000 years ago. From that time, remains the shapes of their villages in Mursia and their necropolis site (il parco archeologico dei Sesi, right where we are located). The second larger Sese is throning in our property and accessible to curious guests (above picture)

The fascinating fumaroles known since antiquity for their healing properties testify the volcanic activity being still alive. A magical experience for nature lover.