After many years, the monk seals have made their comeback in the waters of Marettimo, who they inhabited for millennia until the early twentieth century.
Assumed to be extinct in the Mediterranean Sea, apart from some isolated sightings in Turkey, the Mediterranean monk seals are back today in the waters of Marettimo, admired and respected by the local community, who built in the village a monument dedicated to the Mediterranean monk seals just a few time before the recent sightings.
Taking in account that the Mediterranean monk seals need a perfectly intact natural environment in order to survive and multiply, their return to Marettimo can be easily considered as a "natural" confirmation of the purity of the waters surrounding the island of Marettimo.
Marettimo reaches the height of 686 meters above the sea level with Peak Falcon, having a total surface of twelve square kilometers and one coastal lenght of nineteen kilometers.
It is twenty-one miles far from Trapani and seventy miles far from Head Bon, in Tunisia.
Marettimo, with the village rising on the only tiny plain of the isle with the two little harbours used by the local fishermen, is for sure one of beautifulst, incontaminate and interesting islands of Italy.
Rich of an extraordinary nature, just bear in mind that the flora comprises approximately six hundred species, many of which are endemic or present only in the Egadi Isles, the island is characterized also by the beauties of it sea, rich of life and colors, and for the presence of a rich land fauna that, beyond very many species of birds, comprises also mufloni and wild boars.
The sea around the island is mostly full of rocks, with large prairies of posidonia and sand. Thanks to the transparency of the water, the visibility from the surface easily exceeds the depth of forty meters.
The rich fauna, and the particular abundance of fish has determined the "vocation" of the inhabitants of this island.
In the island the visitor can have a mountain-and-sea vacation, a contemplative pause in tight friendship with the friendly people of the place.
Marettimo, pure and unconaminated isle in the very heart of the Mediterranean Sea, is an oasis of quiet and silence: cars are not allowed. In the same time it is rich of exclusive proposals far from the usual circuits of the mass tourism.
The stages of the ancient history of Marettimo since the Roman houses The cronology derives from passages found in documents of different eras and from the comparative study of existing structures with recent finds on the site of the Roman houses.
The excavation
The archeologcal research in Marettimo sheds light upon a new segment of the ancient history of the island. The monumental complex known as Roman houses, lying around 250 meters above the town, is built in opus quasi reticulatum, a form of brickwork used in ancient Roman architecture. Fabiola Ardizzone and Elena Pezzini, two archeologists, first dug the very suggestive area in the mid nineties.
Between 2007 and 2008 they took part in further excavations aided by other young archeologists, the City Council of Favignana-Aegadian Islands and the supervisor board for culture of the local government. The recent works highlighted five rocks placed vertically and simmetrically with respect to a higher central rock.
The rocks, aligned between the small basilica and the roman ruins, inspired with fascinating hypotheses some of the visitors. The perfect alignment between the central rock, the one that lies uppermost, and the point where the sun rises on spring and autumn equinoxes is astonishing. The same kind of symmetry can be found in neolithic sites in Sardinia and Malta.
Thanks to the works another building vowed to early Christian rites has been found. It is probably a protobyzantine sanctuary dated between the VI and VII century AD with an immersion baptistery. The discovery is particularly interesting since there is only another one similar baptistery in Sicily, recently found in Selinunte.
Consecration of the ancient Byzantine church
On April 25th 2010, the small byzantine church of Marettimo recently discovered near the Roman houses, the Sacred Island, will be consecrated once more and devoted to worship.
It will be a simple ceremony committed to launch a signal of brotherhood and peace from the centre of the Mediterranean. The the City Council of Favignana-Aegadian Islands, the bishopric of Trapani, the parish of Marettimo and the cultural association "Marettimo" will jointly coordinate the event.
The ceremony will be officiated by the bishop of Trapani, Monsignor Francesco Micciché, and the mayor of Favignana-Aegadian Islands, Lucio Antinoro will also attend.
The realisation of the event has been possible thanks to the collaboration of the residents of the island and some affectionate friends of Marettimo.
(The previous texts are taken from an article by Vito Vaccaro Cultural Association Marettimo)
New: the Mediterranean monk seals are back in Marettimo!
The stages of the ancient history of Marettimo since the "Roman houses"
How to reach Marettimo
The closest airport is the Trapani - Birgi one. Several flights comes and departs daily from and to Torino, Genova, Milano, Venezia, Roma and much more cities. From the airport it's very easy to reach the Harbour of Trapani both by public or private transpostation.
A lot of daily courses collegate Trapani and the Egadi Isles, both by large and comfortable hydrofoils and by ferries.
No car driving is allowewd in Marettimo. The cars used al carriers for the boats must be leaved in the apposite free parking available in the harbour of Marettimo.
For the timetables please log on:
- Flights
- www.ryanair.com
- Vincenzo Florio Airport (Trapani - Birgi)
- Falcone Borsellino Airport (Palermo - Puntaraisi) - Taxi
- www.trapanitaxi.it - Hydrofoils and ferries
- www.siremar.it
- www.usticalines.it
