Pantelleria - a small island belonging to the province of Trapani and lies 100 km south-west of Sicily, and 60 kilometers east of Tunis. The island - just 83 square kilometers Its highest peak - Monte Grande (836 meters) - has numerous fumaroles, which indicates volcanic origin of the island. However, the only historically witnessed the eruption took place in 1891 - it was underwater.

In the north-western part of the island of Pantelleria is the capital with a population of about 3 thousand people. The fortified city stands on the banks of the harbor only available, however, only small craft. You can get here by ferry from Trapani or plane.

According to archaeological excavations, the people on Pantelleria appeared about 35 thousand years ago, and it was the Iberian or Ligurian tribes. In the 2-1 millennium BC sesioty lived here, leaving behind the structure is extremely similar to Sardinian nuraghi. Then for a while the island was uninhabited until it was taken over by the Carthaginians, who considered it an important point on the outskirts of Sicily. This happened around the 7th century BC Carthage was built in the hills of San Marco and Santa Teresa, located 2 km south of the modern capital of the island, the Acropolis. From it are preserved stone walls, cisterns and tanks for water, several graves and ruins of the temple, which were found terracotta statuettes.

The Romans, who took the final Pantelleria in 217 BC, used the island as a place of exile for important officials and members of the imperial family. In place of the Romans came the Arabs, who in 700 AD, destroyed the entire population. It was they who gave the island its name, which means "Daughter of the Wind" - because of the strong winds blowing from the African coast. Saracens could only expel Roger of Sicily - the decisive battle took place in 1123.

In relatively recent times - during the Second World War - on Pantelleria has an Italian base torpedo boats that took part in the attacks on British convoys. In 1943, during the landing of Allied troops in Sicily, Pantelleria has undergone large-scale bombardment from the air and from the sea, after which it was captured.

Today the island, which is called the "black pearl of Sicily", is a very popular tourist destination. On its western shore, you can see the ancient settlement, enclosed by the shaft of obsidian blocks and having the 7, 5 meters high and 10 meters wide. On the territory of settlements were found the ruins of huts with pottery, which are now kept in the Museum of Syracuse. In the south-eastern part of Pantelleria is the aforementioned "Sesi" - burial, similar to Sardinian nuraghi, but smaller in size. They consist of round towers with burial chambers. The largest tower has a diameter of 18-20 meters, but most of the "Sesi" three times less. They were also found pottery.

In addition, Pantelleria is famous for its sweet wine - Moscato di Pantelleria and Moscato Passito di Pantelleria, which is made from a local grape variety "dzibibbo."