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Lampedusa - Via Delle Grotte Snc
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Closer to Africa than to Italy, the small island of Lampedusa in the Pelagian Islands archipelago serves as a bridge between two worlds.
Unlike the nearby island of Linosa, Lampedusa is not of volcanic origin but sits on a limestone plateau: the landscape is barren, with sparse vegetation, whilst its brilliant white-sand beaches evoke Caribbean atmospheres.
The waters surrounding it are an incredible shade of azure; thanks to its spectacular seabed and abundance of marine flora and fauna, Lampedusa is one of Italy’s most favoured destinations (and beyond) for scuba-diving enthusiasts. Sea turtles love the island too, and have chosen the enchanting Spiaggia dei Conigli as their nesting ground.
This little earthly paradise boasts 320 hectares of nature reserve: surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, you’ll forget all your worries, deadlines and disputes. A dream holiday for anyone who loves the sea and a slower pace of life.
You won’t find internationally renowned museums and monuments or colossal churches in Lampedusa: the sights to see are small buildings or natural places that hold deep significance for the local people.
Rich in history and charm is the Santuario di Cala Madonna1, a small church carved into the rock where monthly celebrations for the Blessed Virgin Mary of Porto Salvo are held: you can reach it on foot along the path leading to Spiaggia dei Conigli. The church is set within a highly evocative natural context, with lush gardens and several caves carved into the rock that surely served as natural shelter in the past.
A marble statue dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Porto Salvo, the island’s patroness, was inaugurated in 1993 and stands atop a small hill, welcoming seafarers arriving at Lampedusa.
It almost seems to blend seamlessly with the landscape Casa Teresa2, the largest, best-preserved and most famous dammuso on the island. Dammusi are the traditional stone dwellings of Lampedusa and Linosa, characterised by their distinctive domed roof designed to collect rainwater. Purchased by the Sicilian Region, Casa Teresa has been converted into a free-entry museum to showcase the rural lifestyle of the island’s earliest settlers.
If you’re after romance and beautiful sunsets, or if you’re passionate about sailing, head to the Faro di Capo Grecale3, situated in a spectacular position overlooking the sea along the island’s northern coast. The lighthouse is also the finishing point (or starting point) of an 8.5 km scenic road along which you can make numerous stops to take breathtaking photographs.
Back in the island’s main settlement, take a stroll along Via Roma, the city’s main street, which becomes a pedestrianised zone in the evenings, lined with shops, bars and restaurants.
Other points of interest include the Obelisco Cassodoro4, a bronze work by renowned sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro; the Porta d'Europa5, the monument dedicated to those lost at sea; Fontana Cascella6, a marble fountain with striking forms, also dedicated to fishermen.
Lampedusa is also an excellent destination for those wanting to combine sea and trekking. The Forestale, an area dedicated to reforestation, is a green zone rich in trails. The paths, ranging from easy to challenging, offer breathtaking views from some of the island’s highest cliffs.
Lampedusa’s beaches are found almost entirely along the south-eastern coast because the north-western coast, being very high, is inaccessible. During your Lampedusa holiday, explore the coastline searching for your favourite beach and don’t miss a boat excursion to fully appreciate the beauty of this paradise island.
Lampedusa’s most famous beach is Spiaggia dei Conigli, a wonderful expanse of fine sand set in one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful bays. You can reach it on foot along a dirt-track path accessed from the road towards Capo Ponente at a small kiosk.
The area is a nature reserve because the beach has long been a nesting site for loggerhead sea turtle eggs. If you snorkel in the nearby waters, you might be lucky enough to encounter this charming creature in its natural habitat.
Opposite the beach stands the Isola dei Conigli, one of Lampedusa’s most photographed attractions: this small uninhabited rocky islet with steep cliffs makes a striking sight.
It lies very close to the shore and can therefore be reached by swimming or even walking, as the channel separating the islet from the coast is very shallow in places. However, the high cliffs make the interior inaccessible.
The island is home to some rare animal species, including the yellow-legged gull and a particular type of lizard with the scientific name psammodromus algirus, whilst behind the island there’s a submerged natural arch where colonies of orange coral, coloured sponges, red shrimp, scorpionfish and moray eels live.
At certain times, depending on tides and currents, Isola dei Conigli is connected to the shore by a sandy isthmus. It’s a rare but not impossible event.
It appears this circumstance is what gave the island its name. In the past, a colony of rabbits managed to reach the island when the sandy isthmus had formed. Once the isthmus disappeared due to the tides, the rabbits could no longer return to Lampedusa and remained living on the small island.
Finding no predators, they bred uncontrollably and the population became extremely large: hence the name “Isola dei Conigli”.
One of the most frequented beaches on the island is Spiaggia della Guitgia9, easily accessible by public transport or on foot from one of the nearby hotels. It’s perfect for those wanting convenience and for families with small children.
If you’re seeking peace and quiet, the best beach for you is Cala Pulcino10, one of the least crowded on the island. It’s a large beach of gravel and sand, with no facilities and a wild appearance. It’s rather difficult to reach overland: this deters many tourists, but the effort is well rewarded by the beauty of the place. The area is rich in sea caves.
A good compromise between convenience and scenic beauty is Cala Croce11, a natural cove east of Spiaggia della Guitgia. It’s an area sheltered from the winds and so the sea is almost always calm.
For its splendid azure colour and the incredible clarity of its waters, Tabaccara12 is called Lampedusa’s natural swimming pool. Looking at it from afar, it seems as though boats aren’t floating but suspended on the water! The beach is only accessible by sea; alternatively, you can admire it from above by continuing along the path that leads to Spiaggia dei Conigli.
For snorkelling enthusiasts we recommend Spiaggia di Mare Morto13, a rocky cove with an enchanting underwater cave.
Other beaches not to miss at Lampedusa are: Cala Spugna (also called Maluk), Cala Greca, Cala Galera, Cala Madonna, Porto N’Tone.
Lampedusa is a popular destination for scuba-diving enthusiasts: you’ll find numerous diving centres on the island that hire out equipment and organise exciting dives.
The most renowned diving spots are: Punta Parrino, Punta Cappellone, Taccio Vecchio and Secca del Levante. By diving near Isola dei Conigli you can see the statue of the Madonna of the Sea at a depth of 15 metres, to which a beautiful story of solidarity is attached. The statue was donated by journalist Roberto Merlo to thank the people of Lampedusa for the help they gave him during a mishap at sea.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
The island of Lampedusa’s main economic activity is tourism, so there’s a good selection of accommodation. Unfortunately, the island is something of an upmarket destination and hotel prices are higher than other parts of Sicily. To find budget-friendly accommodation it’s best to book well in advance.
Hotels and holiday homes in Lampedusa are concentrated in the south-eastern part of the island, particularly around Spiaggia della Guitgia and near the port and airport. Staying in this area means having all necessary services within reach.
There are no hotels near Isola dei Conigli, but there’s a wide choice of flats, villas and holiday residences.
The simplest way to reach Lampedusa is by plane: the island has an airport with direct flights (including from low-cost carriers) to major Italian cities. However, some flights are seasonal only.
The direct flights to are carried out by the airline from the airports of .
Another way to reach Lampedusa is to take a ferry or hydrofoil from Porto Empedocle, a town just a few kilometres from Agrigento. The same ferry also reaches Linosa island.
A public transport service operates on the island, but it’s advisable to hire a car or moped.
What's the weather at Lampedusa? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Lampedusa for the next few days.
Lampedusa is the largest of the Pelagian Islands and the southernmost Italian territory; it sits midway between the Tunisian coast and the island of Malta.
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