Aegadian Islands

37.96666666666712.2Koordinaten: 37 ° 58 ' N, 12 ° 12'

The Egadi islands ( in ancient Aegates, Italian Isole Egadi, the locals call it Ìsuli Egadi ) are an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Sicily near Trapani. They consist mainly of the three major islands of Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo as well as some smaller islands such as Formica and Maraone.

The Egadi islands have a total area of ​​approximately 37.45 km ² and 4,325 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2009). About 80 percent of the inhabitants live on the main island of Favignana, 14 percent to Levanzo and 5 percent to Marrettimo.

The islands make up the municipality of Favignana in the Province of Trapani.

History

These islands were inhabited in prehistoric times. At that time they were still connected to the mainland. On Levanzo engravings and paintings are obtained from the Paleolithic in the Grotta del Genovese.

In the ancient world were the Egadi Islands 241 BC scene of the last naval battle between the fleets of Carthage and the Roman Republic during the First Punic War, which ended with a victory of the Romans over the Carthaginians, ending the First Punic War.

Gallery

View from Erice Trapani to Favignana and Levanzo

The island of Formica

The island of Favignana