Marettimo: paradise of the Egadi Islands

Marettimo è the wildest and most uncontaminated of the Egadi.It preserves a very precious vegetative and faunal heritage, where rare species have managed to live almost unique. Crystal-clear waters in which to swim, seabed full of wonders to explore, wild nature to discover… all this and much more enclosed in just 12.3 square kilometers.  Her name of Greek origin Hierà Nésos means “sacred island”. The ancient peoples of this restricted area of the Mediterranean (Phoenicians, Elymians, Sicans) attributed to it a character of sacrednessà which it can still be enjoyed today. According to the Trapanese theory of the Odyssey (originated by Samuel Butler), Marettimo would come to coincide, geographically, with Ithaca, the homeland of Ulysses; it would be the hero himself who would indicate its location.   What we know it by today forò comes from the Latin “Maritima”, probably due to the’abundant presence on the island of wild thyme, this is not è however, the only type of herb that grows wild on the island, whose very special climate has contributed to the development of an extraordinary flora. Unlike Levanzo and Favignana, which over the centuries have suffered tremendous deforestation, Marettimo enjoys a lush flora that makes it a true botanical paradise condition probably due to its location and its impervious and wild nature, difficult to shape by man. Marettimo is home to more than 500 species, some of them typical of the island and not found elsewhere in Sicily.   The skies of the island of Marettimo are also crisscrossed by different types of birds such as the kite, heron, barn owl, peregrine falcon, bonelli’s eagle, kingfisher and Mediterranean herring gull.   Finally, a few monk seals, which seemed to have long since disappeared from these areas, were spotted by fishermen in Marettimo waters.   The island of Marettimo è well connected to the mainland thanks to a convenient hydrofoil and ferry service, departing from Trapani and in the summer period also from Marsala. The runs are very frequent and make it easy to move around the Egadi archipelago. In a few tens of minutes è it is also possible to comfortably reach Levanzo and Favignana from Marettimo. On the island one moves on foot, as è cars are forbidden except for a few authorized vehicles. The ’most popular activity è is generally the boat tour of the island, often with organized tours; Marettimo è in fact, the island of Caves on the Sea; more than 400 caves and coves, many of which can be reached only by sea. Here you will not find equipped beaches, rather small coves surrounded by nature bathed by crystal-clear waters rich in fish.   A couple of these beaches can be reached on foot in a few minutes because they are in the immediate vicinity of the village, others require somewhat longer routes, through paths that run along the mountainside or that creep through forests.