Pantelleria è un comune di 7000 abitanti, in provincia di Trapani, che occupa da solo un'isoletta molto più vicina all'Africa che alla Sicilia. La distanza da Tunisi, infatti, è di soli 65 km (dalle coste siciliane dista invece 110 km). L'isola è di origine vulcanica sebbene i suoi crateri - il più alto, Montagna Grande, supera gli 800 m - siano ormai estinti. Oltre ad essere bellissima e selvaggia, Pantelleria è davvero un universo a parte. Non è Italia, non è Africa e non è nemmeno davvero Sicilia.
Si parla un dialetto particolare, il "pantesco", molto più vicino all'arabo e al maltese moderno che al tradizionale siciliano. Le piante che trovano il proprio habitat ideale su questi terreni esposti al vento di mare sono palme nane, viti nane, capperi, ulivi nani, erbe aromatiche. Difficile, qui, trovare alberi di agrumi o frutteti. La fauna di Pantelleria è costituita da uccelli migratori che si fermano a riposare sull'isola durante i loro viaggi tra Africa ed Europa. Più volte è stato avvistato un esemplare di foca monaca, forse l'ultimo di una specie ormai in via di estinzione. Numerosi ... fin troppo ... i conigli!
DA NON PERDERE: una visita allo SPECCHIO DI VENERE, la piccola laguna - oggi Riserva Naturale Portetta - situata dentro una ex caldera vulcanica; i GIARDINI PANTESCHI, ovvero dei recinti cilindrici costruiti con le pietre di lava estratte dai campi. In tal modo, si liberava lo spazio per le colture e si costruivano, allo stesso tempo, dei "rifugi" dentro i quali far crescere le piante, protette dai venti forti dell'isola. Non fatevi mancare l'esperienza di visitare un DAMMUSU, la tipica costruzione isolana oggi utilizzata per lo più come alloggio turistico. ------ foto dal web.
Pantelleria is a small town of 7000 inhabitants, in the district of Trapani, which alone occupies an islet much closer to Africa than to Sicily. The distance from Tunis, in fact, is only 65 km (it is 110 km from the Sicilian coast, instead). The island is of volcanic origin although its craters - the highest, Montagna Grande, exceeds 800 m - are now extinct. In addition to being beautiful and wild, Pantelleria is truly a universe apart. It is not Italy, it is not Africa and it is not even Sicily.
They speak a particular dialect, the "pantesque" language, much closer to Arabic and modern
Maltese than to traditional Sicilian. The plants that grow on these soils -exposed to the sea wind- are short palms, short vines, capers, short olive trees, aromatic herbs. It is difficult to find citrus trees or orchards, here. The fauna of Pantelleria is made up of migratory birds that stop to rest on the island during their journeys between Africa and Europe. Several times a specimen of monk seal has been spotted, perhaps the last of the species in the Mediterranean area. Far too numerous are the local rabbits!
The small inhabited center of Pantelleria, with ancient Greek-Roman origins and rich Arab elements, was almost totally destroyed by the bombings of World War 2. As a consequence, there are no more monuments of historical value, except for some archaeological ruins dating back to the Bronze Age and the megaliths of the second millennium BC. You can admire them in the places called Mursia and Cimillìa. The Barbacane castle (600 AD) was in part destroyed too. Today it appears restored and almost completely renewed.
NOT TO BE MISSED: a visit to the MIRROR OF VENUS, the small lagoon - today a protected Natural Reserve - located inside a former volcanic crater; the PANTESQUE GARDENS, that is cylindrical fences built with lava stones extracted from the fields. In this way, the space for crops is freed and at the same time "shelters" are built in which to grow plants. Crops, in there, are protected from the strong winds of the island. Do not miss the experience of visiting a DAMMUSU, the typical local architecture used both as house and stable ... today mainly as tourist rooms! ------photos from the web.
Pantelleria is a small town of 7000 inhabitants, in the district of Trapani, which alone occupies an islet much closer to Africa than to Sicily. The distance from Tunis, in fact, is only 65 km (it is 110 km from the Sicilian coast, instead). The island is of volcanic origin although its craters - the highest, Montagna Grande, exceeds 800 m - are now extinct. In addition to being beautiful and wild, Pantelleria is truly a universe apart. It is not Italy, it is not Africa and it is not even Sicily.
They speak a particular dialect, the "pantesque" language, much closer to Arabic and modern
The small inhabited center of Pantelleria, with ancient Greek-Roman origins and rich Arab elements, was almost totally destroyed by the bombings of World War 2. As a consequence, there are no more monuments of historical value, except for some archaeological ruins dating back to the Bronze Age and the megaliths of the second millennium BC. You can admire them in the places called Mursia and Cimillìa. The Barbacane castle (600 AD) was in part destroyed too. Today it appears restored and almost completely renewed.
NOT TO BE MISSED: a visit to the MIRROR OF VENUS, the small lagoon - today a protected Natural Reserve - located inside a former volcanic crater; the PANTESQUE GARDENS, that is cylindrical fences built with lava stones extracted from the fields. In this way, the space for crops is freed and at the same time "shelters" are built in which to grow plants. Crops, in there, are protected from the strong winds of the island. Do not miss the experience of visiting a DAMMUSU, the typical local architecture used both as house and stable ... today mainly as tourist rooms! ------photos from the web.
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