The beauty of the crystal clear waters of Pelagie Islands, their essential landscape, their depths with the tropical fauna, an amazing variety of fishes: groupers and mackerels, parrotfishes and triggerfishes. Lampedusa, together with Linosa and Lampione composes the Pelagie archipelago, from the Greek name Pelaghie – Islands of the high seas, shards of African land, emerged from the Mediterranean Sea.
Lampedusa is the southernmost point of Italy. It is also Italy's southernmost island. Politically and administratively, Lampedusa is part of Italy, but geologically it belongs to Africa since the sea between the two is no deeper than 120 metres. Lampedusa is a semi-arid island, dominated by a garigue landscape, with maquis shrubland in the west. It has no sources of water other than irregular rainfall. Overall the island has two slopes, from west to east, and from north to south of the island. The south-western side is dominated by deep gorges, while the southeastern part is dominated by shallow valleys and sandy beaches. The entire northern coast is dominated by cliffs: gently sloping cliffs on the east coast, and vertical sheer cliffs on the west coast.
Lampedusa is the southernmost point of Italy. It is also Italy's southernmost island. Politically and administratively, Lampedusa is part of Italy, but geologically it belongs to Africa since the sea between the two is no deeper than 120 metres. Lampedusa is a semi-arid island, dominated by a garigue landscape, with maquis shrubland in the west. It has no sources of water other than irregular rainfall. Overall the island has two slopes, from west to east, and from north to south of the island. The south-western side is dominated by deep gorges, while the southeastern part is dominated by shallow valleys and sandy beaches. The entire northern coast is dominated by cliffs: gently sloping cliffs on the east coast, and vertical sheer cliffs on the west coast.
Cala Pulcino, Lampedusa
With a number of beaches, you have a good choice! Do not miss Island of Rabbits, Cala Galera, Cala Francese, Cala Greca, Cala Creta. They say the overlooking Cala Creta takes your breath away … undoubtedly the essence of Lampedusa goes straight to your heart.
Island of Rabbits
Just a few meters away from the west coast of Lampedusa, in front of a stunning sandy beach, is the Isle of Rabbits.
Contrary to what you may imagine, this little piece of rocky and wild land, shows no trace of rabbits. It is much easier, however, to run into a specimen of loggerhead turtle laying eggs in the nearby beach. It is named Spiaggia dei conigli (Rabbits Beach) due to its proximity to the Island, and it’s one of the last places chosen by these rare reptiles as their nesting site.
Spiaggia dei Conigli, Lampedusa
Actually the name of the Island and of its namesake beach is believed to be due to a mistake in interpreting an ancient cartography that reported the name Rabit Island, improperly translated from the English word rabbit (coniglio).
More likely the word “rabbit” does not indicate the small animal, but results from a very similar Arabic phoneme, which can be translated with the meaning of “connection”, with reference to the isthmus that sometimes comes out between the islet and the coast. Name aside, what is certain, in this delectable dream place, is the triumph of the magnificence of nature, the beauty of the beaches, the view and the amazing crystal-clear blue water that turns into a real natural swimming pool.
Island of Linosa
Linosa island, near Lampedusa, has black, volcanic rocks, as an explosion of lava. Its beaches are arduous and black, and open onto an intense green sea, perfect to discover its wonderful seabeds. In the heart of its inhabited area, foreshortenings of daily life and histories told by the islanders.
Faraglioni, Linosa
Street Art, Linosa