Favignana is an ancient Island at the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, nine miles away from Trapani (20 minutes by hydrofoil or 1hr by ferryboat), the largest of the Egadi Island. Its name derives from the wind called “FAVONIO”(zelfiro) which makes its climate very mild.

Its shape is like a butterfly with widespread wings, it has a plain area in the west side, a wood in the east and a big mountain at its centre, (Montagna Grossa 315 mt).

Thanks to its exhaordinary location Favignana has witnessed great historical events and legends. It has also been a high valued strategical base for people struggling to conquer the seas. The (Fenici) Phoenicians immediately settled in the North East side of the Island (Cala St. Nicola).

In the village traces of settlements with caves used for sheltering can be found along side sacred caves and tombs. In 241 B.C. the final battle of the first Punic war broke out and the legend has it that “Cala Rossa” took its name from the blood shed by the (Cartaginesi) defeated by the Romans.

In the following centuries Favignana was dominated by the “Saracens” who built several towers like the one on St. Catherine’s Mount (Montagna Grossa) and the one at the harbour now completely destroyed.

In the XI Century Ruggiero II transformed the Saracen towers into Fortresses and built the Fortress of St. Giacomo. During the Aragon Reign in 1341 two Tuna Industry were established: St. Leonardo and St. Nicola.

In 1637 the Spanish Crown was obliged to hand the Egadi Islands over to Camillo Pallavicini a noble man from Genoa as payment for a large loan to the local financial administration. Ignazio Florio purchased the Egadi Islands from the noble man and hence began the “Flourishing Age of the Florio’s”