Historical
Following are some details regarding the major island of the archipelago, which is also Municipal seat covering an area of 20 sq. Km. and a coastline unwinding for over 33 km. Favignana has been named after the Favonius wind (sweet west-blowing breeze) and is shaped like a butterfly with unfolded wings, represented by two planes on both the eastern and western sides of the Montagna Grossa overlooking S. Caterina castle (302 Mt.), an ancient Saracen watchpost, rebuilt by the Norsemen king Roger II and used as a prison during the Bourbon period (1794-1860).
Lying at the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, Favignana has always been a strategic place for all the people looking on such sea and who fought epic battles to posses it. One of the most important of such battles took place on the sea in front of the island between Romans and Carthaginians in 241 BC, and was determining to the outcome of the First Punic War. History records that the water upon which the fighting occurred became red for the blood shed by the fighters and since then the facing bay was named Cala Rossa (Red Cove). Still today, these waters recalling history and legend hide the secrets of ancient battles in their depths. Actually many researches record archaeological areas by the coast of all the islands in the archipelago and this is witnessed by many findings, protected by a cam circuit and by the Italian Law, available for an underwater visit.
However, the history of Favignana and the Egadi Islands is mainly connected to the Florio family and its "tonnara". In fact, here is where the traditional mattanza takes place. In late May the island of Favignana becomes livelier with people's voice and the sound of the rows beating the sea: it’s the "tonnaroti", the tunny fishers, going out to sea for the "Mattanza", i.e. fishing the tuna. The complex and ritual fishing system follows a pace and times stated by the Rais, i.e. the head of the tonnara and, in the old times, also the head of the village. The consistent fishing of the tuna has very ancient origin, as it is thought that the Phoenicians were already practising it, even if the present fishing procedure goes back to the Arabs. The “tonnaroti” have been making the same movements, phrasing the same prayers, singing the same "Cialome", (ritual chants) for centuries. This ritual holds something sacred and scores the island’s life, having determined its richness in the past. Besides, its compulsory to underline that, due to both natural and human causes, a great deal of the past splendour of the "Queen of the Tonnare"- as the "tonnara" in Favignana was called at the time of the Florio family- has been lost. The "Thunnus Thinnus" fishing season is no more the same, but it remains part of the cultural tradition of these islands. Although it is not possible to watch it in its past fashion, it is still exciting to listen to the old fishermen’s stories or admire the photos exhibited in the bars, restaurants and the shops on the islands.
Today the island with its beaches, rocks, beautiful coves and unspoiled sea is a longed-for tourist resort, joining the modern and the old, traditions of a village that has always lived on the sea, namely tun fishing.
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