FAVIGNANA

Nature, colours, emotions, people and their tradition: this is Egadi.

Historical and general notes

Egadi archipelago, located on the West coast of Trapani, has three large islands: Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo and two smaller ones: Formica and Maraone as well as several islets on the extreme western part of Sicily. Egadi territory represents a complex system of exceptional natural and cultural value; its uniqueness is given by its different valuable aspects of each islands.

Favignana, on the west part of Trapani, (approximately 9 miles away), and its 19 km of area, is the biggest of Egadi Arcipelago, the most populated and important for its economy and administrative aspects. For its morphological aspect, it has been compared with a butterfly or a falcon with its unfolded wings on the sea, since the ancient times.

Its name originated in the western wind called "Favonio" or "Zefiro", which blows in the Spring.

Its ancient name "Aegusa", the mithical Isle of goats described in the Odissea, derives from Homeric legends: Ulisse landed on the island before his expedition against Polifemo Cyclops at Erice Mountain.

In 241 b. C. a great sea battle took place, which changed the shape of the island history, the Romans, led by consul C. Lutazio Catulo, were victorius over the Cartaginians. Later of Favignana was involved in Islamic invasions and occupations; its most prosperous period is at the end of last century. In that period the Florio family bought richness to the Island fishing tuna and set up an establishment to process the tuna fish, a real example of an archeological industrial monument.

Tuna fishing has always been the most important economical activity since the Arabic domination.

The"mattanza", (butchering of tuna), which is held in Spring, is a real ceremony with very ancient origins; a very hard and touching example in which man fights at close quarters against the tuna trapped in the net. The Boss and the only director of tuna fishing is called "Rais", (he used to be the lord, and people thought he had supernatural qualities): he sets up the date in which they prepare the tuna fishing net and gives specific instructions following a rhythm, it's like a magical and religious ceremony in which the "Tonnaroti" (fishermen) sing the "Cialome" typical Arabic songs.

THE ISLAND

The lighthouse floats luminous beams of light over the sea, the mountain brightens from red and gold reflections from the sunset. A falcon as a pilgrim is wheeling in the sky looking for the last prey and flocks of seagulls settle on the rocks and the islets, crying to set up for the night. The green Mediterranean maquis becomes darker, rabbits go out from their lairs and fisheren light the night fishing lamps.

The seam quiet and calm, with its flickering lights seems like it has seen this scenery thousand of times and like it knows how time goes by. In its liquid lap, like a mother, it looks after the ancient secrets and keeps them jealously, sometimes returning a few remains like amphora, anchors and coins from the ancient civilizations which have made history.

Even the hills made of tufa and limestone keep ancient secrets; among stalactites and stalagmites, natural works of art, you can find the ancient traces left by Phoenicians, Grecians, Romans and prehistoric men, they lived in the caves and left graffiti on the rock leaving an evidence of their presence.

A light breeze rises from North and even the "Tonnaroti" sitting at the bar in the square can feel it.They stand up one by one to go back home and sleep: if the wind rises the boats will be sailing at dawn tomorrow because the "Mattanza" will be held. The tuna swim slowly under the surface of the sea and go into fishermen trap without undestanding it; it's a ritual of ancient origins, and every year fishermen hope they can sail full of tuna, which will give food for a year to all the country.