Anna Pihan, the photographer of our recent Solstice campaign shoot, shares her tips for making the most of a visit to Pantelleria, Italy.
In the Mediterranean Sea, southwest of Sicily and east of Tunisia, lies the Italian isle and comune of Pantelleria. Shaped by volcanic origins, Pantelleria is known as the black pearl of the Med - unique, mysterious and untamed. Read on for photographer Anna's tips, tricks and unmissable moments of this incredible location.
ABOUT THE ISLAND
Pantelleria is a wild and wind-swept island off the coast of Sicily. Black volcanic moonscapes meet the cobalt blue sea, the scent of wild fennel and herbs float through the air, and on clear days, Africa shimmers on the horizon. With thermal springs, dammusi dwellings, and natural saunas hidden in caves, it’s a place to slow down and escape.
BEST TIME TO GO
June - November. You’d want to spend at least a week on the island.
HOW TO GET THERE + AROUND
During the summer months it’s quite easy to get to the island –– you can either catch a flight with DAT from Palermo, Rome, Naples or Milan directly to Pantelleria or if you’d prefer to be on the seas, take a 2 hour fast ferry with Liberty Lines or 8 hour slow ferry with Siremar from Trapani to Pantelleria.
Once you’ve arrived, you’ll need a car to make the most of the island. Email Policardo in advance to secure it for your stay.
There’s only 2 petrol stations on the island, so make sure you’re fully fueled before you get on your way.
WHERE TO SLEEP
TENTUTA BORGIA - Book the Dammuso Grande and enjoy the house and pool from the 2015 film A Bigger Splash by Luca Guadagnino. It generously accommodates 8 people, surrounded by ancient vineyards, olive trees and gardens. Stock up on local produce and freshly caught seafood in the port, and spend quiet evenings under the wide sky, with a big pot of simple caper pasta as the days turn to night.
CLUB LEVANTE - If you didn’t feel like it, you wouldn’t have to leave Club Levante, it’s got everything you need. Choose between a Classic Dammuso with sea views, or the Club House Suites. The sustainable boutique hotel is warmly hosted by Matteo, and you can enjoy the pleasures of hotel life like breakfast until noon, a pool with sweeping views of Arco dell’Elefante and sip sundowners on pink cushions before dining at the restaurant onsite. It’s also a short walk down to Arco dell’Elefante and Cala Tramontana.
LA GOLETTA - Rent a private Dammusi 20 metres from the waters edge, La Goletta is the perfect place for uninterrupted leisure, long lunches with friends and regular dips in the sea. You can call Chef Alessandro Bonomo to cook traditional Pantellerian dishes using local ingredients in your home +393497722618 when you want a night off. Find more private villas and dammusa’s on
WHAT TO DO
NATURAL SPA - Lago di Venere (Mirror of Venus) in the northern part of the island. The lake is within a volcano, and the water is muddy and filled with pockets of warm bubbling water. Let yourself slathour a layer of mud on your body and lay in the sun for a natural spa day.
HIKE - Easily hike up to Bagno Asciutto for a natural steam bath and views of the agricultural valley of Monastero. There are so many trails to explore on the island, the expert guide to call is Peppe D’aiettti +393284165598 to discover the caves, canyons, coves and craters.
BOAT - Hire a boat from Scauri and explore the coastlines, caves and hard to reach swimming spots at your own leisure - MAGIA Rental (call +393296004500 to organise)
SOUVENIR - Bring home a taste of the island––a bottle of the island's sweet wine Passito along with many other local wines, capers or olive oil from Azienda Agricola Di Emanuela Bonomo.
WHERE TO EAT + DRINK
LA VELA - a personal favourite in Scauri open for lunch and dinner. A simple trattoria right on the waters edge focusing on freshly caught seafood dishes, pasta and salads served on cobalt blue paper napkins. Sip on local wines and try the caponata with capers, fresh catch of the day and finish with Baci Panteschi - a sweet ricotta filled fried pastry - an island speciality.
IL PRINCIPE E IL PIRATE - For a slightly more fine dining experience, Il Principe e il Pirate offers ocean views and six courses open for both lunch and dinner, not far from Gadir.
LA PORTELLA - Especially on a Sunday when many places are closed, this pizza restaurant in Khammais a local favourite. Order the potato pizza with capers to have there or to go.
KAYA-KAYA, IL BAR DEL PORTO - A small cliffside bar close to the port of Scauri is the perfect spot for a casual afternoon aperitif. As evening falls, the space transforms into a dance floor with live music and DJs.
WHERE TO SWIM
Pantelleria is all about off-rock swimming (there are no sandy beaches to be found), and some of the best spots are found down steep pathways which is part of the adventure.
CALA TRAMONTANA - Cala Tramontana is an easy option to get to with restaurants nearby. Long stretches of concrete offer a place to bask in the sun and dive into the sea.
CALA GADIR - This sweet fishing village is a popular spot with thermal baths to discover around the harbour. It’s a protected bay making it ideal for swimming and snorkelling, and it's easy to spend the whole day swapping thermal waters for refreshing sea swims, and basking in the sun––with access to lunch and refreshments.
PUNTA DI NIKÁ - Leave the car at the top carpark and wander down the uneven path past the private Dammusi’s along the coastline until you reach a small boat ramp and an enchanting bay. There are thermal hot springs when you swim to the left. Bring snacks and drinks for long languid hours by the sea.
Inspired by Pantelleria