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| Spotlight On |
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The Minor Islands of Italy
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The Paelagian Islands - Sicily
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| These islands surrounded by the deep sea separating Sicily (225 km) and Tunisia (100
km) take their name from the Greek word "pèlagos" (sea). Europe's southernmost point is Capo Maluk
of Lampedusa at a latitude of 35°30' North. This latitude explains the typically "African" climate
and environment of the three Paelagian Islands: Lampedusa, Linosa
and Lampione (province of Agrigento).
From a historical point of view, these islands experienced the same events as the other Sicilian islands: Phoenicians,
Punics, Romans, Normans and Saracens succeeded one another before the island became part of the Kingdom of the
Two Sicilies. |
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| From a historical point of view, these islands experienced the same events as the
other Sicilian islands: Phoenicians, Punics, Romans, Normans and Saracens succeeded one another before the island
became part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. After having been almost totally abandoned by its population, the
isle of Lampedusa was re-populated in 1843. There is also an interesting geological curiosity: out of this group
of islands only Linosa has volcanic origins. |
| Lampedusa |
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This small (20 km2 ) calcareous island, scorched by the hot sun all year round and
characterised by its African-type landscapes and by the "dammusi" (stone houses), is surrounded by the
most transparent Mediterranean waters. The main attraction of Lampedusa is the great solitude of this island, lost
between the coasts of Sicily and Tunisia, and the strong contrast between the aridity of its land, covered with
Indian figs, agaves, carobs and low bushy scrub on one hand, and the sharp colours of an extremely crystal-clear
sea on the other. This island breaks away from the mainland just in front of the cove bearing the same name and
which is populated by sea turtles (Caretta caretta) that use its beach to continue the life-cycle of this protected
species. Beyond Capo Ponente the
coast becomes higher and rougher: it reaches a remarkable height behind the Grotta and the Scoglio del Sacramento where it falls perpendicularly into the underlying dark-blue sea. The highest part of the island
is Monte Alberosole, 133 m. |
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| Lampione |
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The "lampione" (lamp-post) is a 1.2 km2 uninhabited crag with a lighthouse
and lies 20 miles from Lampedusa. This solitary condition makes it an extremely romantic place in the middle of
the populated Mediterranean sea. It can be reached only from Lampedusa. |
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| Linosa |
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Linosa is not bigger than a crag (5 km2) and it is the only Paelagian Island created
by a volcano. Its origin and its land of scoriae, lapilli (pozzolanas) and lava flows that reach the sea are the cause of both the island's extremely
peculiar conformation (along the coastline and inside the island) and of its low but sometimes thick vegetation
composed of lentiscus, euphorbiae, sealilies, carobs, mulberries and grapes. Lampione is higher than Lampedusa
(Monte Vulcano, 195 metres; Monte Rosso, 186m.; Monte
Nero, 106m.: these are the peaks of three old volcanic systems still recognisable
by the visible crater edges) and populated by numerous species of seabird. The sea represents the island's major
richness: colours, transparency, seabeds teeming with fish, madrepores and sea-sponges. The populated area is represented
by a little village dominated by the typically African-styled "dammusi". These houses are based on basic
and very old cube-shapes brightened up with lively lime-colours that create the image of a seaside-nativity scene. |
Food & Wine
In any trattoria or restaurant you can begin with fished-based starters: cozze (mussels), calamari,
gamberetti (shrimps), sgombri, sardine, alici cooked
in various ways are always present. First dishes normally bring the real taste of mediterranean cuisin: pasta con sarde, linguine ai frutti di mare, risotto alla Marinara, spaghetti agli scampi,
spaghetti alla Bottarga. Second dish is inevitably a fish, normally cooked
on a grid or in oven: trancio di Pescespada
(swordfish), calamari alla griglia,
orata , branzino, dentice, cernia
and all traditional mediterranean fishes are always served and cooked in a very simple way and they are usually
accompanied with simple vegetables, that normally are imported daily from Sicily. If you like, you can taste some
of typical sicilian sweet dessert wines. Passito is the most known one. |
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| For more information: |
AAPIT Agrigento - Local Tourist Board
Viale della Vittoria 255 - 92100 Agrigento ITALY
Phone 0922-401352
Fax 0922-25185 |
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