Aegadian islands in Sicily

The Aegadian Islands, known during the antiquity under the Latin name Aegates, are an archipelago of three main islands and two secondary islands, located at about 7 km from the Western coast of Sicily, between Marsala and Trapani.
Administratively they form the commune of Favignana, and they shelter the Natural marine reserve of the Aegadian Islands.
This archipelago which remains still little populated, is beautiful. Mediterranean landscapes and sailors are almost deserted.

The archipelago of 37.45 km ² is geologically linked to Sicily. It is formed of the islands Favignana, Marettimo, Levanzo and two smaller and rocky : Formica and Maraone. The climate is very soft there in winter and the summers are long, hot and sunny. The average low temperature in winter is 5 degrees, whereas the maximum average is 45 degrees. Precipitations are weak there.

History

Traces of ancient human establishments are mainly in Levanzo and in lesser extent in Favignana. It is supposed that the last glaciation created a natural passage between Africa and Sicily.
In 241 before our era, the Romans came in the islands after the final naval battle of the First Punic War. After the fall of the Roman empire, the islands fell between the hands of the Vandals, Goths and then from Buckwheats. In 1081 they occupied and were strengthened by the Norman ones. They had intended one common to Sicily until the XVIth century, when they become properties of the Pallavicini-Rusconi of Genoa.

Gastronomy

The traditional dish of the Aegadian islands is containing couscous and fish like tuna, roasted swordfish,…

See also :

• Island Favignana
• Hôtels on the Favignana island

Aegadian islands map (source : Wikipedia)