With an area of 5.82 square kilometres, Levanzo is the smallest of the three islands. The island, called Phorbantia by the Romans, consists of a small village that overlooks the beautiful small harbour of Cala Dogana from where it is possible to reach an example of rural architecture, the Case Florio building with its farm. Its geomorphological conformation offers lots of caves, many of which are of historical and archaeological interest, first and foremost the famous Grotta del Genovese.

It is also the least inhabited island of the Egadi archipelago, intimate and primordial. The island of Levanzo is 6.5 miles from Trapani and covers only 10 square kilometres. The highest point is Pizzo del Monaco at 278 metres. Levanzo is home to charming, secluded pebble and sandy beaches located along the path leading to the Faraglione. In the south-eastern part of the island, visitors can appreciate and enjoy the splendid waters of two coves that can be reached both by land and sea: Cala Fredda, characterised by a pebble beach and a convenient slide, and the wilder Cala Minnola.

Along the north-western coast of the island of Levanzo, the attentive sailor can admire the Grotta del Genovese, by raising his eyes. It is a world-famous archaeological site and also interesting from a naturalistic and landscape point of view. It will be an excursion not to be missed by all visitors to the island.

It is a prehistoric cave where paintings and graffiti from the Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods have been found, depicting stylised figures of men, birds and fish. The cave consists of a large entrance chamber commonly referred to as the 'antegrotta', from which a narrow and low tunnel leads to a less high and longer inner chamber known as the “retrogrotta”. The “antegrotta” preserves the remains of a furnace for the manufacture of lime and was used as a stable and shelter for agricultural tools until the middle of the last century.

The “antegrotta” holds no less than thirty-three engraved figures and about one hundred painted figures. This is Italy's richest legacy of prehistoric figurative expression.

The discovery of the wall representations in the inner chamber dates back to 1949, when Francesca Minellono, a Florentine painter who was spending a short holiday on the island, intrigued by the rumours that were circulating in the village and driven by curiosity slipped, dragging herself laboriously on her belly, into the narrow tunnel.

The Grotta del Genovese can be visited with prior booking:

• Opening times: every day (April to October)
• Reservation: compulsory
• Visit duration: approx. 2 hours (departing between 10.30 and 10.45 a.m.)
• For information and reservations: +39 0923 924032; +39 339 741 8800 - info@grottadelgenovese.it

NOTE: for our guests we can organise a day tour of the island of Levanzo which includes a visit to the Grotta del Genovese

The ancient Hiera, sacred to the Greeks, is certainly the jewel of the archipelago. It is a mountainous and dolomitic island, whose highest point is Pizzo Falcone, 684 metres. above sea level. Its high, rocky coastline owns some 400 caves, both on the surface and in depth, which can only be reached from the sea. Marettimo is about 20 miles from Trapani and is the most mountainous, wooded and geographically distant of all the islands of the Egadi archipelago.

Scalo Vecchio is the small fishermen's port, from which the castle of Punta Troia can be seen. The earliest known construction on Punta Troia is a 9th century watchtower from the Saracen era. In 1140 Ruggero II, King of Sicily, transformed the Saracen tower into a real castle that took on its present appearance in the 17th century, under Spanish rule. The castle has recently been renovated and converted into a museum area (which can be visited during the summer).

Another site of great interest are the so-called 'Roman Houses'. They are situated at about 250 metres above sea level and offer a unique panorama. Built after the First Punic War, around 150 B.C., as a small military garrison that controlled the naval routes, they stand on the same promontory as a charming little rural church from the Norman period (11th-12th century), built by Basilian monks, who spoke Greek.

Marettimo is the wildest and most unspoilt of the Egadi Islands. Thanks to its distance, the inaccessible nature of the mountains and the low impact of man on the environment, it still safeguards an extremely valuable wealth of vegetation and fauna, where rare species live. What makes Marettimo world-famous, however, are its caves, both emerged and submerged.

There are about 400 caves, some of which can be easily visited  during a boat trip around the island. The sea caves are true masterpieces created by the skillful hands of nature such as the Grotta del Tuono or del Presepe, famous for its stalactites and stalagmites, or the Grotta del Cammello. The cave tour by boat is a unique and unforgettable experience, in some cases allowing one to enter the caves and touch the walls.

The Grotta del Cammello is named after a camel-shaped rock, which is visible to a witting eye and features a large cavern and a small pebble beach. The Grotta del Tuono (Thunder Cave) takes its name from the sounds produced by the sea inside it and is characterised by deep sea beds of a beautiful, intense blue. Passing Punta Mugnone, you will reach the western coast of the island, characterised by numerous caves and coves, high cliffs overlooking the deep, transparent sea.

This leads to the Grotta della Bombarda, so called because of the characteristic 'blowing' that is created during sea storms inside a small crevice. The Grotta del Presepio (Crib Cave) takes its name from stalactites and stalagmites, eroded by the sea and wind, that have taken on forms resembling the statues of the crib.

This brings us to Cala Bianca, which, together with Cala Rossa (in Favignana), is considered the most beautiful and evocative stretch of coastline of all the Egadi Islands. An expanse of blue that is difficult to describe and comparable to any other corner of the sea.

NOTE: for our guests we can organise a visit to Marettimo with a boat trip and a tour of the caves (on board small boats typical of the island)

Levanzo and Marettimo are now considered destinations of great interest by all trekking, hiking and walking lovers (with their own differences). Levanzo is ideal even for beginners. It is possible to dedicate even just a day to discovering the paths (all very accessible and scenic) that cross and/or skirt almost the entire island.

Some recommended itineraries:

Itinerary 1: from the village to the Grotta del Genovese

Itinerary 2: from the village to Capo Grosso

Itinerary 3: from Capo Grosso to Cala Tramontana

Itinerary 4: from the village to the Faraglione and the Launched Stones

Itinerary 5: the sea route, towards Cala Fredda, Cala Minnola and Cala Calcara

Itinerary 6: from the village to Case Florio

Itinerary 7: from Cala Fredda to the Saracen Tower

For more information on the suggested trekking itineraries in Levanzo

• visit the dedicated website
• consult the itineraries created by other lovers

Marettimo is a natural botanical garden, a 'treasure' island that holds an immense landscape and natural heritage. To enhance and conserve it, over the years forestry workers have secured and extended the numerous paths historically present on the island. In just a few years, these interventions have transformed Marettimo into an obligatory destination for all hiking lovers.

Some recommended itineraries

Itinerary 1: Paese, fonte 'pilusa', Calvario cemetery, iron bridge, Roman houses

Itinerary 2: Village, Passo del Bue, 'Pigna' spring, Punta Troia castle

Itinerary 3: Village, Case Romane, Craparizza, Pizzo Falcone

Itinerary 4: village, Case Romane, Portella Anzini, Semaforo

Itinerary 5: Village, Carcaredda, Jardinedda, Chianazzo, Punta Libeccio Lighthouse

Itinerary 6: Village, Cemetery, Punta Basano

Itinerary 7: Village, Case Romane, Taurro, Punta Troia Castle (or Pizzo Falcone)

Itinerary 8: Village, Case Romane, Traffic Light, Cart, Carcaredda

Itinerary 9: Village, Case Romane, equipped area, the Antu Ranne or Carcaredda.

Itinerary 10: Village, Portella Marunnuzza, Cala Bianca

Itinerary 11: Paese, Carcaredda, Zotta Muletti or Cardone, Punta Libeccio and back via the Cretazzo

For more information on the suggested trekking itineraries in Marettimo:

• More information on the suggested itineraries
• The guide with suggested itineraries, to download and print
• Gallery on Repubblica.it

As for trekking, Levanzo and Marettimo are particularly suitable for diving lovers.

In addition to enjoying a very rich marine flora and fauna, Levanzo is home to a real archaeological heritage. Through marked and safe underwater routes, it is possible to admire archaeological finds under the protection of the Superintendence of the Sea. Particularly not to be missed are the two routes of Cala Minnola and Capo Grosso, both dating back to Punic-Roman times.

Between the 27 and 30-metre depths between Cala Minnola and Punta Altarella are the remains of a Roman shipwreck, some fifty wine amphorae and fragments of black-painted pottery dating back to the first century BC. We are on the eastern side of the island where there are traces of an establishment for processing garum. It is possible that there is a direct relationship between the factory and the Roman ship that was landing on Levanzo.

At a depth of about 28 metres, off Capo Grosso, it will instead be possible to admire some remains of the famous Egadi battle. This is in fact the site where some Roman ships dropped anchor before facing the Carthaginian fleet. Anchor logs, Roman rostrums, helmets, amphorae. Finds left on the seabed in their original position to be admired.

Marettimo also offers wonderful experiences for diving enthusiasts, such as the dive off the coast where the wreck of a merchant ship is located, the cave dive on a 30-metre seabed, the dive at the Secca del Cammello and many others where it is possible to enjoy the beauty of uncontaminated, crystal-clear waters and admire the marine flora and fauna.

For further information:

• Partner diving centre in Favignana (also dives in Levanzo)
• Recommended diving centre in Marettimo