Pantelleria can be reached by sea from Trapani or flying in from Palermo and in certain times of the year even from Milan and Rome. Cars and motorcycles can be hired on the island at convenient prices, but walking and cycling are the best ways to get around the island and enjoy it at its fullest extent.

Toi fully appreciate the island you shouldn't just visit it during the summer, but in winter too, in the fall and especially in spring. You can stay in the one of the island's many hotels, but by all means the best way to enjoy it is to stay in a "dammuso", a traditional local building. You can rent them in various sizes (even single rooms) and prices; you must book though..

For those going to Pantelleria in the summer in search of some time by the sea, you will find it crystal clean, and the advice is not to miss the opportunity to circumnavigate the island, and, unless you own or hire a boat, look among the rocks, with comfy shoes on your feet, for hidden corners, which will be deserted even in the middle of august, where you can swim and look into the fish-full sea bottoms.

Basically, in order to really enjoy this island fully, you must get to know it and almost explore it with the spirit of a traveller rather than an "all-inclusive" tourist. As part of the exploration you can include the search for archaeological finds and sites dating back to pre-history with the monumental complex of Cimillia/Mursia/Punta Fram, a large settling from the beginning of the second millennium BC, which we have received in a good state owing to their position on Gelkmar's lava flow.

The island of Pantelleria is, in fact, the emerged summit of an imposing submarine volcano complex which rises from the bottom of the sea for about 2000 metres. Noting to be afraid of though. Despite the island being by all means and active volcano, this is currently only in a hydrothermal activity stage as the many thermal sources evidence, as well as the fumaroles over large areas. The last episode of eruptive activity, a submarine eruption, took place in 1891.

Archaeology lovers should not forget the archaeological underwater remains from the Greek-Hellenistic-Roman age. For lovers of good things, albeit simple, the island offers foods sprinkled with local wines and scented with the famous Pantelleria capers. Not only fish, but chickens, goats, game and tasty products of the earth.

July.2002

Pantelleria
The marine park
Pantelleria for holidays (In Italian)
Municipality of  Pantelleria (In Italian)
Gal Leader Ulixes (Organisation for the development of minor islands - In Italian)