| Castles, resort and hotels list
in Pantelleria |
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| This is both Sicily's biggest and most
outlying island (situated 55 miles from the Sicilian Capo Granitola and 46 miles from the
Tunisian Cape Bon). There is only one village and some small built-up areas with names
that recall the past Arab presence: Bugheber, Bukkuram, Gelkhamar, Khamma, Rekhale and
Siba'. Other built-up areas have typical Italian names such as Scauri, Tracino, San Vito,
Grazia, Campobello. This 14-kilometre-long and 8-kilometre-wide island reaches a maximum
altitude of 836 meters with Montagna Grande. The mountain is surrounded by 24
"cuddle" (small craters that recall the volcanic origins of this islands), lava
flows, residues of pumice-stone, basalts, fumaroles and thermal sources (Gadir, Nicā,
Satana). There are many grottos where it is possible to take healthy steam baths; one of
the most famous ones is the 'Stufa' (stove) del Bagno di Arturo near Sibā. The island was
Phoenician (Hirani), Greek (Cossyra), Arab in the IX century (Bent el Rhion,
"Daughter of the wind'), Swabian, Angevin, Aragonese and Bourbon. The famous donkeys
of Pantelleria are still bred inland. |
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