Leaves may already be turning brown across much of Northern Europe, not to mention the heavy floods now affecting multiple destinations, but the further south you go, the sunnier it gets, and when it comes to one of the southernmost spots, temperatures are pretty much summer-high still:
Italy may be best known for its cultural offerings, with the Roman Colosseum and the winding waterways of Venice, to name a couple, but it’s also home to Mediterranean islands yet to be touched by mass tourism and that boasts warmer weather year-round.
One of those is Pantelleria, a forgotten gem of the Med that’s only seen 74,200 arrivals so far this year, despite its great food, mild climate and affordable prices:
Pantelleria Is Waiting For You
Pantelleria is a small island municipality south of Sicily with around 7,335 residents, encompassing an area of 32 square miles––it may not sound like anything special or noteworthy at first glance, but wait until you see this:
It is characterized by its volcanic nature, with jagged peaks traversing the compact landmass, zig-zagging along a fertile hinterland dotted with vineyards, and as for the coast, it’s interspersed with quaint fishing villages and steep sea cliffs.
Though it is rich in culture––this is Italy, after all––Pantelleria is not somewhere you go primarily for museums and medieval landmarks: nature comes first, and it’s primarily a relaxation haven for slow travelers looking to beat the crowds and soak up the dramatic scenery.
Natural Volcanic Spas
There are plenty of natural wonders around the tiny island that would warrant multiple visits even, but it seems to be a consensus among the limited number of tourists vacationing every year in Pantelleria that the pristine Lake of Venus is a mandatory stop:
Formed inside the crater of a dormant volcano, it is an oval-shaped pool filled with turquoise-blue warm water––it’s an open-air spa free to access, and the thermal mud covering its volcanic bed is said to have healing properties.
The lake is not Pantelleria’s only wellness attraction: a short 21-minute drive away, inside Benikulá Cave, is a nature-made sauna filled with vapor emanating from a volcano.
The rocky chamber’s temperatures rise to 104°.
Something you should know if you’re swapping a jam-packed Capri or an increasingly busy Ischia for the more-offbeat Pantelleria is that, unlike other islands in Italy, it does not have beaches, but that’s not to say access to the Mediterranean is barred:
All around the island, you’ll find numerous rocky bays, with two of the most-visited being Cala Levante, boasting views of the Elephant Arch, a rock formation resembling a trunk plunging into the sea, and the easily-accessible Cala Tramontana, bathed by warm blue waters.
Why Is Pantelleria So Warm?
You may be wondering how exactly Pantelleria stays warm while vast swathes of Italy, particularly in the North, face significant precipitation starting as soon as September––the answer is pretty simple: it’s all in the geography of the place.
In case you haven’t been curious enough to check for Pantelleria on Google Maps yet, it is the closest Italian territory to the coast of North Africa, at only 35 miles away, and it is in fact located nearer Tunisia than its own country’s mainland.
Needless to say, the well-defined seasonal changes in Europe do not fully apply here: though Pantelleria does get moderately chilly in the off-season, especially around January and February, for much of the year, it’s surprisingly warm:
More specifically, you should expect daytime highs of 75.2°F in October, and nighttime lows of 69.8°F––even if you’re visiting as late as November, temperatures typically reach up to a pleasant 68°F during the day, dipping to an average 62.6°F after sundown.
Plenty Of Hiking Trails
If you love hiking, Pantelleria has at least 12 delineated trails to choose from, from moderately challenging to challenging.
Some are as short as a mile, and others as long as 14 miles, and they take roughly 6 hours to complete–but hey, it’s not like you’ll be complaining with those amazing views!
One of the easiest nature trails to set out on is the loop around the Lake of Venus.
It takes an estimated 23 minutes and involves visiting a couple of viewpoints overlooking the lake and the surrounding greenery.
Now, if you’re not easily discouraged by long distances, the extensive 7-hour hike starting from the Byzantine Tombs, passing through the scenic Valle di Monastero, and culminating at the 836-meter-high Montagna Grande, the tallest peak on the island, is to be considered.
If we were to pick one, however, we’d go on the tourist-friendly 10-mile roundtrip excursion between Mursia and Punta Puzzolana.
We’d visit beautiful headlands, including Punta della Croce, easily recognized for its solitary lighthouse, and natural parks littered with archeological remains.
Somebody Said UNESCO-Listed Wine?
Besides the breathtaking nature, Pantelleria is famous for being one of the oldest-inhabited island communities in the Mediterranean, with a History spanning thousands of years––even local wineries are historically-charged!
One of them, Donnafugata, still cultivates vines as natives probably did at the dawn of time, within the UNESCO-listed, ancient alberellos, small terraces protected by drystone walls made from lava that have stood largely intact for over 5,000 years.
You can even make a dinner reservation at the landmark winery, with six different labels to be sampled, including their flagship Ben Ryé, paired with classics of the local cuisine, a combination of Sicilian and North African flavors.
Daytime tastings start from only $44.51, while dinners cost from $77.90 per person, but if you’re on a stricter budget, the good news is you can visit the region’s vineyards, lush tropical garden, and their alberellos for free!
Pantelleria Is Surprisingly Affordable To Visit
Speaking of affordability, Pantelleria is one of the most affordable sunny getaways in Italy year-round, due to the low cost of living on the island, where wages are markedly lower compared to a larger, neighboring Sicily or the mainland, and tourism is not as developed yet.
Dining out at Acquamore, one of the most expensive restaurants in Pantelleria (the largest settlement sharing its name with the island itself) will set you back between $22 and $45––alternatively, the more casual Ristorante Pizzeria Franco Castiglione has pizza from as cheap as $11.
Considering the near-perfect weather and the island’s unspoiled character, you’d expect accommodation to be on the pricier end, but that’s not the case at all:
Well, if you have $929 to splurge a night on the palatial Sikelia Luxury Hotel, Pantelleria’s only 5-star listing, by all means, go for it, but you can definitely spend under $50 a night and have a just-as-amazing vacation:
This privately-managed apartment rental in the center of Pantelleria town costs from $48 a night to book, then there’s a waterfront Hotel Blu Marino, where single rooms are priced $58, and even a 4-star Kirani Resort, breakfast and airport shuttle added from a very-reasonable $99.
Is Pantelleria Safe Amid The Migrant Influx?
After all, it’s that close to North Africa, and we have all heard the horror stories coming from fellow Italian island Lampedusa, which, in recent years, has become a magnet for smuggling gangs and irregular migrants coming in small boats.
Let us remind you that Pantelleria is a volcanic island, and it does not have unprotected coves or beaches.
The only harbor in town where sizable boats can dock is in the largest settlement, and that’s strictly monitored by the Italian Marine and local authorities.
Despite being the closest Italian island to Africa, Pantelleria is not as heavily affected by the migrant crisis.
Its towering coastal cliffs, rugged coast, and absence of beaches make it effectively a natural fortress–unlike a much-flatter, more exposed Lampedusa.
Indeed, the easiest way in and out of Pantelleria is via the small airport, hosting flights from select mainland cities, like Rome and Milan, and larger Sicilian hubs, namely Palermo, Catania and Trapani, from $66.26 one-way with DAT Airlines.
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