Favignana
Favignana | |
---|---|
Comune di Favignana | |
UTC+2 (CEST) | |
Postal code | 91023 |
Dialing code | 0923 |
Website | Official website |
Favignana (Sicilian: Faugnana) is a comune including three islands (Favignana, Marettimo and Levanzo) of the Aegadian Islands, southern Italy. It is situated approximately 18 kilometres (11 miles) west of the coast of Sicily, between Trapani and Marsala, the coastal area where the Stagnone Lagoon and the international airport of Trapani, are sited.
Island
The island of Favignana is famous for its tuna fisheries and is now a popular tourist destination with frequent hydrofoil connections to the mainland.
History
In ancient times Favignana was called Aegusa, meaning "goat island" in
On 10 March 241 BC, a major naval battle was fought a short distance offshore between the two powers. Two hundred Roman ships under the
In the early Middle Ages, Favignana was captured by Arabs and was used as a base for the
Under the Aragonese rulers of Sicily, Favignana and the other Aegadian Islands were hired out to Genoese merchants and in the 15th century the islands were granted to one Giovanni de Karissima, who adopted the grand title "Baron of Tuna".
The plentiful tuna fish found offshore were first exploited systematically under the Spanish from about the 17th century onwards. Facing severe financial problems from their ongoing wars, the Spanish sold the islands to the Marquis Pallavicino of Genoa in 1637. The Pallavicini substantially developed the economy of the island, prompting the establishment of the modern town of Favignana around the Castello San Giacomo. In 1874, the Pallavicino family sold the Aegadian Islands to Ignazio Florio, the son of a wealthy mainland industrialist, for two million liras. He invested heavily in Favignana and built a major tuna cannery on the island, bringing prosperity to many of the inhabitants. Calcarenite quarries were also opened with stone being exported to Tunisia and Libya. During the 20th century, Favignana's economy slumped between the two
The island's fortunes were turned around by the advent of tourism from the late 1960s onwards.
During World War II, American Forces under Gen. Patton drove the Axis forces from Sicily. Two American officers, Lt. Louis Testa, and Capt. R.E. Gerard, were a two-man ‘expedition’ which ‘captured' the three Aegadian Islands and 1027 prisoners. The officers went over from a Sicilian fishing boat, which they paid $3. They went ashore on Favignana Island and the Italian Lt. Colonel surrendered it along with Levanzo and Marittimo islands and their garrisons.
Geography
Favignana is the largest of the three principal Egadi Islands, with a land area of 19.8 square kilometres (7.6 sq mi). The island is often described as having a "butterfly" shape. Favignana town is located on a narrow isthmus connecting the two "wings", which have quite different characteristics. The eastern half of the island is largely flat, while the western half is dominated by a chain of hills of which Monte Santa Caterina is the tallest at 314 metres (1,030 feet). It is topped by a fort, originally established by the Saracens. It was used by the Italian military and closed to the public. It has now been abandoned. A number of small islands are situated off the south coast of Favignana.
Main sights
The island is famous for its caves of calcarenite rock (locally known as "tufo") and the ancient fishing technique of
As the island consists mainly of calcareous rocks, there are few beaches on the island; however, it is a popular site for scuba diving, snorkeling, and for day trips from nearby Trapani.[citation needed]
People
- Pat Varsallona, former footballer
See also
References
- ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ Pons, Giulio (2017). Favignana - A guide to places of interest (stories, places, curiosities) (English ed.).
- ^ Lentini, Rosario (2011). The Tuna-fishing Structures in Sicily: an Identarian Architectural Heritage (2nd CITCEM Conference: "The Sea: Heritage, Uses and Representations", Universidade do Porto) (PDF) (Report).
Further reading
- Newspaper article in the PM Daily, Thursday August 12, 1943 NYC
- Mattanza by Theresa Maggio (ISBN 0-14-100160-7), an American writer's account of the Favignana's springtime tonnara.