The stunning island of Favignana is a real hidden gem. It is situated around 7km off the northwest coast of Sicily and is the largest of the three Egadi/Aegadian islands it neighbours. Italians know all about this sun-drenched spot, but it remains gloriously overlooked by the rest of the world…
Favignana is resolutely Italian, and so after a long lunch, there is barely time for a siesta and a quick swim before heading into town for an aperitivo, the passeggiata (an evening stroll for the sole purpose of socialising), then dinner, followed by a gelato and a stroll by the harbour’s edge.
Fresh tuna, lobster, prawns and squid are on every menu, and Arabic influences are common. The main seafood component of Favignana is tuna – fished for between May and June, its either grilled as deliciously fresh steaks, served ‘tartare’ or incorporated with pasta in spaghetti all bottarga.
Pasta dishes might include almond or fresh mint; puddings use candied fruit and pistachios. Ice-cream parlours are on every corner serving flavours such as peach, fig, blood orange, almond and jasmine. Perhaps the best is La Pasticceria on via Garibaldi, where queues gather until 11pm each night to eat fine gelato served in warm, fresh-baked brioches.
With its main piazza packed with delicious restaurants, cute gelaterias and its low Mediterranean houses, the main town of Favignana is really pretty. Don’t miss the various fetes held in the square throughout the summer, they’re a great opportunity to hang out with the locals and hear some traditional Sicilian folk songs. On the other side of the island there is a super cool beach bar within a stone’s throw of the water, come here in the evenings for a drink and relax on the huge bed-size sun loungers.
There are lots of different water sports on the island - speed boats, snorkelling and SCUBA can all be arranged in advance. Take a day trip to the other islands of Levanzo and Marettimo where there are mountain walks, bicycles, scooter hire and lots of sightseeing! The island is best explored by bicycle – there are some stunning routes and nothing too laborious - it really is the best way to get around.
There are some wonderful swimming spots scattered all around the island, the most popular of which are within walking distance to the house, Bue Marino and Cala Rossa. Lido Burrone is great for little ones as it has a sandy beach. The colour of the water has to be seen to be believed.
In the early evening, the heat from the day starts to dissipate slightly as the favonio wind arrives, a perfectly warm breeze from which the island takes its name. Stroll or cycle into town for an aperitivo before your dinner reservation – be prepared to do as the Italians do and eat late with the locals for the most authentic experience. During the summer months, it can be worth booking tables at any popular spots (of which there are many!) in advance, as there is a wonderful, vibrant atmosphere in the evenings and tables can quickly fill up. Nightlife is fairly gentle, based mainly around the many bustling bars, often with live music and dancing. No evening is complete without an indulgent and refreshing gelato for the stroll home though!
If its guaranteed sunshine and heat, the main summer months of July and August are best, but don’t forget that late June and early September can be equally as sunny as well as slightly quieter, so we’d recommend making the most of it if you’re able to avoid school holidays. That being said, Favignana is still relatively untouched by mass tourism, and so most of your fellow beachgoers are Sicilian tourists who head to their local island paradise for the summer.
The seas are still wonderfully warm well into October, so it’s the perfect place to head to for those all-important last rays of sunshine to see you through the winter months!
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