Why is car rental in Pantelleria necessary?
Simple! Because without a car or a scooter you will not be able to visit all the things we are about to offer you.


Here are the 15 things to do absolutely during your vacation.



1) A bath at the elephant arch:
Spectacular arc of gray lava that evokes, in shape and color, the back and head of an elephant while it plunges its trunk into the sea, forming a huge arch. The seabed that surrounds it, the clarity of the water and the ease of access to the sea make Cala Arco dell'Elefante one of the most popular beaches for tourists. To reach it from the center, follow the perimeter towards Khamma - Tracino, you will arrive at a crossroads, follow the signs for Gadir and then for Cala Levante.



2) Picnic in the big mountain:
Montagna Grande with its 836 meters is one of the thousand faces of this enchanting island. Covered by woods and forests of holm oaks and pines, with singular and unique botanical species, the Montagna Grande is the heart of the Island of Pantelleria National Park. An exceptional place, easily accessible by car or scooter, offers visitors the opportunity to have a picnic under the fantastic pine forests, breathe a unique air and enjoy breathtaking views.





3) Visit the grotto of the brigands:
If you are already on the top of the big mountain you cannot miss this place. Arrived at the parking lot near the military tower, it is possible to discover a path that leads to the descent of a cave, facing west, called "the grotto of the brigands". So called because a group of young people found refuge in it, who at the time of the unification of Italy, had refused to perform the military service which at the time required a performance of 7 years, and were long sought. Following the discovery of the refuge they were publicly executed and since then that "den" acquired the name of "the grotto of the brigands".




4) Natural sauna at the Benikulà cave:
This natural cave is located in the Sibà district, in the locality of Benikulà, along the ridge of Montagna Grande. You get to a small square that serves as a parking lot, then continue for about 15 minutes on foot through a small path that overlooks the TiKhirrìkhi valley and offers a splendid view. The entrance to the cave, not man-made, is a triangle formed by boulders, which also make up the interior of the cave. Water vapors up to 38 ° C escape from the rocks. This emission is used as a real natural sauna by Pantelleria and tourists to treat rheumatic pains.


5) Immerse yourself in the thermal waters of Gadir:
These thermal springs have been known and appreciated since ancient times. In fact, the place where they arise, Gadir, is a name of Semitic origin which means "protected place". It was the Phoenician-Punic people who first began to appreciate the therapeutic qualities of these waters. Recent studies have also established that the probable thermal establishment was covered by a collapse of volcanic origin. The small existing pools carved into the rock are said to be the remains of the ancient plant. The springs follow a path that descends from above towards the sea and the waters are captured in these small tanks. The waters of the springs, particularly sweet but rich in mineral salts, are used above all to cure arthrosis and rheumatism in general and have a non-constant temperature ranging from 39 ° C up to 50 ° C.


6) Mud at the mirror of venus lake:
One of the most enchanting and unique places that the island of Pantelleria offers is certainly the Specchio di Venere Lake. The lake contributes to a wellness holiday thanks to its hot springs (with variable temperatures between 40 ° C and 50 ° C.) And its natural muds. It is located in the crater of an ancient volcano occupying the bottom of a depression of calderic origin. Thanks to this peculiarity, on the southern shore where the thermal springs are concentrated, its waters are warm and saturated with sulfur with the bottom of the marginal belt characterized by black-greenish mud rich in nutrients with beneficial and precious properties for the skin. How and what to do? The NATURAL TREATMENT for THERAPEUTIC USE ON THE SKIN includes: 1) immersion in the thermal baths; 2) leaving the water and collecting the mud from the bottom to spread it all over the body. 3) let the mud dry while walking to wash again only after complete drying. The result of the treatment is a smooth but above all purer skin.



7) Excursion in the Favare valley:
At the foot of the big mountain, shortly after the districts of Scauri and Rakhàli, there is the valley of the favare: The Favare are jets of water vapor that can reach up to 100 ° C and that come out from cracks in the rock intermittently, accompanied by some once from the emission of sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. The rocks altered by acid gases and hot steam have taken on a reddish-brick color in the vicinity of the mouths, already visible from afar. The most important and spectacular of all is the "favara grande" where the steam in contact with the colder air condenses into droplets of water which, with a primitive channeling system, is collected in small tanks dug into the rock and used to water farm animals. A spectacular landscape where you can feel the breath of the island.


8) Walk to Piana di garlanda:
It is considered by the islanders the garden of the island, a very fertile plain on the slopes of Mount Gibele where, sheltered from the winds, the famous zibibbo is grown. ancient rim of the “garland greenhouse” volcano and, on the right, the highest volcano on the island, Mount Gibèle. At the beginning of the valley it is worth visiting an abandoned church dating back to the end of the fifteenth century, the church of San Francesco. After two kilometers, get ready to visit what remains of a Neolithic village, obtained in some caves, called "Cammere" and finally, follow the signs for "Gibiùna", tombs carved into the rock in the middle of a grove of holm oaks.



9) Tour of the churches:
Scattered throughout the island, from the smallest to those of greater interest such as the sanctuary of the Margana, they are certainly worth a visit. In Margana there is the homonymous sanctuary, where the image of the Madonna della Margana, protector of the island of Pantelleria and its inhabitants is kept. The painting dates back to 857 and it seems that it arrived in Pantelleria through the monks of the monastery of Patirion, with whom the Basilians of Pantelleria were in contact, to hide it from the numerous pirate raids that at the time infested the Sicilian coasts.



10) Island tour by sea:
The jagged and beautiful Pantesca coast stretches for over 51 kilometers with spectacular coasts and various reliefs that offer breathtaking views of cliffs that plunge into the sea. The vertical profile of the island, seen from the sea, is changing and never banal, which is why it is worth hiring a boat or preferring a boat trip with a local guide to fully appreciate its wonders.

With us you can also rent a boat with or without a license and for the less experienced, we also offer the skipper service.



11) Visit the village of the sesi:
Visiting Pantelleria, one is fascinated by the natural beauty of the island and the evidence of ancient civilizations of which, in the past, the Mediterranean island was home. extraordinary are the megalithic constructions present in the area of Mursia and Cimillia, whose origins still remain, in many respects, obscure. In these districts, about 5,000 years ago, a people from the coasts of northern Africa settled and invaded south-western Europe. These were men dedicated to hunting, but also to agriculture and pastoralism, who settled in the areas of Mursia and Cimillia and built a village made up of small houses, the so-called Capanne, defended by a wall, the High Wall, for any attacks from the hinterland. The Sesi, typical funerary constructions of Pantelleria, are made up of piles of brute jutting stones. They were erected outside the village walls, not on hills, but on flatter areas; of the 57 that have come down to us, only one has remained intact: the Sese Grande or Sese del Re, so called because it was destined for the dominant family of the village. It consists of twelve cells, all located in the center of the building, and twelve corridors, up to 7 meters long, which lead towards the center ending in a cell and eleven entrances. Inside the cells, four sarcophagi and various pottery were found that served as funerary items. After the bodies were buried, the entire building was bricked up.

12) Visit the Roman acropolis of San Marco:

Pantelleria does not return evidence relating to the periods dating back to the ancient Bronze Age up to the presumed time of Phoenician colonization. The archaeological documentation, in fact, becomes prolific again only starting from the Carthaginian period, where the importance of Cossyra (name by which classical sources designate Pantelleria) is demonstrated in the connections between Sicily and Africa. Pantelleria becomes, in this particular historical period, almost an appendage of Carthage, while always maintaining its economic and political autonomy, as evidenced by the local coinage. This role lasted until 217 BC. when the Romans finally manage to conquer Cossyra. From the 1st century BC onwards, Pantelleria had its golden age. It is on the two hills, San Marco and Santa Teresa

From the 1st century BC Pantelleria had its golden age and on the two hills, San Marco and Santa Teresa, traces of Roman rule are preserved. This is the place where the main political, public and sacred functions were concentrated. The two hills are separated by a flat saddle, a vast paved esplanade, marked by wall constructions, which could be considered as the public forum. The excavations also revealed part of the Punic period walls and a terracing system with an important defensive function, probably connected to the vain attempt of defense by the Carthaginians. Among the relevant elements, there is the ramp that led from the southern slopes to the top of the hill, a public water system, consisting of cisterns communicating with each other and, from the filling of the cisterns, interesting sculptural material belonging to the monumental structures was found. to a temple of the second century BC, it is about fragments of statues and some fragmentary Latin epigraphs but above all the well-known Roman imperial portraits of: Julius Caesar, Antonia Minor and Titus.



13) Visit the Barbican castle:

The Barbacane castle stands in the old port of Pantelleria and overlooks piazza Almanza and via Borgo Italia. Given the particular location with the walls lapped by the sea on one side, facing the port on the other, it was a bulwark to protect the island's maritime traffic. Until just over a century ago, the castle was the predominant element of the walled city. Entering the first courtyard surmounted by a walkway and passing the old guardhouse, you enter the main courtyard. To surround this courtyard there are several rooms and a passage that leads to the north-west bastion from which you have a splendid view over the whole port. Through one of the rooms you can access the circular tower and the old dungeons, which were walled up about a hundred years ago, today constitute the most significant element of the castle. From the courtyard, going up a staircase leading to a first floor, there was the "prison for gentlemen" and another room that was used as an armory. On the second floor, on the other hand, a series of corridor rooms, while to the right of the arrival landing there is a larger room whose vault is marked by a series of freestone arches. To the left of the arrival landing, you reach the second level of a cylindrical tower at the top of which a bell tower with a clock face connected to two bells, one of which dated to 1750, is placed. which was the "Governor's house" which includes five rooms. To the right of this house are the rooms already intended for housing the troops. On the left side of the first courtyard there is a tower known as San Barnaba, a toponym deriving from the fact that on the second floor of said tower there was the deposit of the powders. As mentioned above, the castle was used as a prison until 1975; the current restoration works are aimed at a museum destination.


14) Pond of the undines:

Rough sea? No problem. Among the most visited destinations during storm surges there is a characteristic salt water lake, fed by the sea. It can be reached both by sea and by land from Punta Spadillo by following the appropriate signposts. For those who love tracking, it can also be reached from the new path created by the forest with access from Cala Cinque Denti. Recommended for those who love particular places, the lake is not very deep, unlike the stretch of sea in front which is also characterized by very strong currents.

15) Balata of the Turks:

When the mistral wind blows, this is one of the most beautiful spots on the island for swimming. Located to the south of the island, it is said that it was once a natural stopover used by pirates, but today it is a bay with seabed and a ridge with sensational colors. Getting there by car is not easy, the road is unpaved and in poor condition, we advise you to drive carefully but when you get down, the landscape is worth the effort. Balata dei Turchi is one of the most beautiful coasts in all of Europe.

The best way to visit these places, as already mentioned in the previous articles, is to reach them independently as the few public transport available only connect the inhabited centers. It is therefore essential to rely on a car rental in Pantelleria.