Capri Italy Travel Guide, Capri Italy Island Guide, Capri City Guide, Capri Tourism & Tourist Attractions

A beautiful island, the smallest among the three islands belonging to the Aegadian Islands, Levanzo has its own charm unmatched by any other island. It is a quiet island unsurpassed for its natural beauty. Situated amidst the blue green waters of the Mediterranean Sea, north of Favignana, near Sicily, Levanzo is an ideal island to visit. It is filled with verdant greenery and natural flora and fauna. It is small enough to undertake a day trip from Trapani.

How to get there

Levanzo is only fourteen kilometres away from Trapani. You can get to Trapani by flight from almost anywhere in Europe. You can visit all the sights in the islands within a day. However, if you like peace and quiet and nature, Levanzo is perfect for a relaxing holiday away from the hustle and bustle of everyday living. The style of living in the village is very laid back and simple. The pace of life is slow as the locals and tourists live beside each other.

Places to visit

Levanzo is a small island. It is only 5.82 kilometres. It has a jagged coastline. It can be accessed through the North West and South East sides of the island. One can visit the entire island by foot. It is enjoyable and very practical to carry your best walking/trekking shoes when you visit Levanzo.

Pizzo del Monaco

This is the highest point in the island. It stands at a height of 278 metres. It is a nice but a steep trek up to this point from where you can see stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. The south west coast offers the more stunning views.

The Cave of the Genoese in Levanzo

This is the most popular among the “the things to see” in Levanzo. The Cave of the Genoese is a historic and artistic treasure. It was discovered in 1949. This cave is situated in a ravine and is about eight metres wide. There is ancient graffiti and paintings on the wall.

The Cave of the Genoese illustrates traces of prehistoric man with its wall paintings. These wall paintings date back to the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods. The paintings at the bottom of the wall date back to the end of the Upper Paleolithic Era and mainly depict animals. Figures of horses, cattle, deer and a few humans are represented with simple strokes in a naturalistic style. On the upper walls there are pictures of stylized pictures representing fish like dolphin and tuna exemplifying the origins of tuna fishing in Sicily. Both charcoal and animal fat have been used. Some flint knives and ceramic artifacts have also been recovered from the cave.

Situated about five kilometres from the village, the caves can be visited throughout the year. It is advisable to visit the Cave of the Genoese in a jeep with a guide. In summer a boat ride to the caves as well as for exploring the island of Levanzo is ideal.

Cala Dogna

This is the only village in the island of Levanzo. It is ancient and has one main road bisecting it from North to South. There are only around five hundred inhabitants including the fishing community and tourists living in picturesque white houses with fishing nets drying in the sunlight. From the village you can follow a well maintained pathway which leads to the south west coast with pebbled beaches going up to the Faraglione. The Faraglione is a cone shaped islet. It is connected to Levanzo by an isthmus.

The beautiful beaches and the Mediterranean Sea

Levanzo is the island to visit for any one who loves the sea. One can go cruising along the Mediterranean as well as go for long beautiful walks along the pebbled beaches. Along the eastern coast there are rare and precious black coral formations. The sea is also rich in different types of seaweed and tuna fishing is an ancient industry as depicted in the wall paintings in the Cave of the Genoese. It is very refreshing to live even temporarily in the fresh, unpolluted refreshing air of the Mediterranean Sea. When you circumnavigate the island of Levanzo there are breathtaking beautiful coves, small bays and gulfs which are very beautiful to behold.

Food, Drink and Shopping

Being a small village there are only two or three restaurants depending on the season. Ristorante Paradiso is managed by the Ania family from 1959. It offers a beautiful view of the sea. The staffs are well mannered and give you the menu verbally. It goes without saying that sea food delicacies are the major dishes in the menu and are absolutely fresh and delicious. The other hotel by the seaside with restaurant and bar is Pensione dei Fenici. It also has a terrace and offers fishing trips and other facilities. It offers special fish dishes in its menu as well.

There is a mini market and a few shops in the village which cater to tourists and local needs. Trapani and other islands are also very close and easily accessible.

Levanzo is an ideal place to visit for a day trip or a leisurely, relaxed holiday.