Skip to content
Cala Rotonda in Favignana with the natural rock arch over the turquoise sea

Editorial page

In the footsteps of Ulysses in the Egadi Islands

Three islands, a poem and a handed-down tradition: what truly links the Egadi Islands to the Odyssey and what remains literary fascination.

This page always distinguishes documented facts from mythological attributions: nothing that follows proves Ulysses' passage to the Egadi Islands.

All itineraries

Why the Egadi Islands are linked to the Odyssey

The Egadi Islands do not appear by this name in the Odyssey. The connection arose much later, when scholars and enthusiasts attempted to match the poem's geography with a real stretch of sea: a small archipelago, very close to the Sicilian coast, with diverse islands and navigation routes frequented for millennia.

For travelers, the result is an enjoyable key to interpretation, not a historical guide: you visit authentic places — a cove, a prehistoric cave, Roman ruins, a castle — while keeping the myth as a narrative thread, knowing that it remains a literary reading.

Literary hypothesis, not an established fact

Samuel Butler's hypothesis

In 1897, the English writer Samuel Butler published The Authoress of the Odyssey, in which he advanced two then-provocative theories: that the poem was composed by a woman and that its locations correspond to western Sicily.

In that reconstruction, the land of the Phaeacians coincides with the area of Trapani, Ithaca is placed at Marettimo, and Favignana, ancient Aegusa, is associated with the island of goats described in the poem.

It is important to frame it for what it is: a literary interpretation, debated and never confirmed by excavations or documents. Butler remains a fascinating reference point for understanding how an ancient text is read, not proof of what actually happened.

Local tradition: Cala Rotonda

On the west coast of Favignana, Cala Rotonda is identified by local tradition as the spot where Odysseus is said to have landed. Next to the cove lies a cave with a natural arch carved by the sea, which on the island is called the arco di Ulisse.

There are no ancient artifacts or sources linking the place to the poem: it is a handed-down story, which nevertheless gave its name to one of the island's most beautiful corners. You can reach it by bike from the port, and swimming is done among the rocks.

Cala Rotonda Profile
Cala Rotonda a Favignana, insenatura arrotondata con acqua turchese e scogli di tufo

What you can actually visit today

Real, accessible, and verifiable places: for each one, how to get there, difficulty, duration, and best season.

Favignana

Cala Rotonda and the cave with the natural arch

A rounded cove on the west coast of Favignana, with a cave and a rock arch carved by the sea. Local tradition points to it as the spot where Ulysses is said to have landed: it is a story passed down on the island, not an archaeological fact.

How to get there
About a 20-25 minute bike ride from the port along the road to the west, then a short dirt track. Also reachable by sea with boat tours.
Difficulty
Easy, last section unpaved and entry into the water over rocks
Time required
Half day with swim stop
Best season
From May to October; with a westerly sea, waves build up
Cove factsheetView on map

Favignana

Punta Sottile and the lighthouse

The western tip of Favignana, with the lighthouse overlooking the channel towards Marettimo: the right spot to understand how close the Egadi islands are to each other and why the archipelago has always been a navigation route.

How to get there
About 25 minutes by bike from the port along the west coastal road.
Difficulty
Easy on asphalt, then rocky coast
Time required
1-2 hours, best at sunset
Best season
All year round; with strong winds the cliff is exposed
Punta Sottile Fact SheetHow is the sea today?

Marettimo

Roman Houses of Marettimo

Remains of a Roman-era settlement flanked by a small Byzantine church, on a plateau above the village. It is one of the few visible archaeological sites in the archipelago and has no proven link to the Odyssey.

How to get there
On foot from the village of Marettimo along the marked trail that climbs towards the plateau; Marettimo can be reached by hydrofoil from Trapani or Favignana.
Difficulty
Moderate: continuous climb, no shade
Time required
2-3 hours round trip
Best season
Spring and autumn; in summer only early in the morning
Connections to MarettimoView on map

Marettimo

Punta Troia Castle

Fortress on a rocky spur at the northern tip of Marettimo, of Norman-Swabian origin and remodeled several times: long used as a prison, today it is the island's most scenic panoramic destination.

How to get there
Coastal walking trail from the village, or taxi boat to Cala Manione and final climb.
Difficulty
Challenging: elevation gain and exposed sections
Time required
3-4 hours round trip on foot
Best season
Spring and autumn; avoid the middle of the day in summer
Connections to MarettimoView on map

Marettimo

Grotta del Cammello

Marettimo sea cave with a small pebble beach inside, famous as a stop on boat tours around the island. It can only be visited from the sea and stopping depends on weather conditions.

How to get there
Boat tour of the island or taxi boat from the port of Marettimo.
Difficulty
Easy, but only by sea
Time required
Short stop during the boat tour (half day)
Best season
Summer with calm seas
Boats and taxi boatsConnections to Marettimo

Levanzo

Grotta del Genovese in Levanzo

It houses prehistoric rock engravings and paintings: it is the most important archaeological site in the Egadi Islands and the archipelago's only ancient figurative evidence open to visitors. Here, the value is historical, not mythological.

How to get there
Only with an authorized guide and reservation: departure from the village of Levanzo by off-road vehicle or by sea, followed by a short walk.
Difficulty
Moderate: last downhill stretch on a trail and steps
Time required
Approximately 2-3 hours including transfer
Best season
All year round, subject to sea conditions and guide availability
Connections to LevanzoView on map

The map of places

Tap a marker to open the linked page.

The 3-day themed itinerary

Schedules are indicative: island connections vary by season and weather.

Day 1 · Favignana, the haven of tradition

  1. Morning

    Arrival in Favignana and bike rental

    Connections from Trapani or Marsala: check the updated timetables before departing.

    Learn more

  2. Late morning

    Cala Rotonda and the natural arch

    The cove that local tradition identifies as the landing place of Ulysses, with the cave and the rock arch.

    Learn more

  3. Afternoon

    Museum of the former Florio Factory

    Archaeological section with the naval rams from the Battle of the Egadi in 241 BC: here you move from myth to documented history.

    Learn more

  4. Sunset

    Punta Sottile

    The lighthouse and the channel towards Marettimo, with the entire archipelago in view.

    Learn more

Day 2 · Levanzo and the Grotta del Genovese

  1. Morning

    Crossing to Levanzo

    Short connection from Favignana: check schedules and return on /come-arrivare.

    Learn more

  2. By reservation

    Visit to the Grotta del Genovese

    Prehistoric paintings and engravings: entry is only permitted with an authorized guide and reservation, by land or by sea.

  3. Afternoon

    Coves of Levanzo and return

    Swim near the port and return to Favignana on the last available trip.

    Learn more

Day 3 · Marettimo, the furthest island

  1. Early morning

    Hydrofoil to Marettimo

    It is the most distant island: leave on the first available trip and check the return schedule immediately.

    Learn more

  2. Morning

    Roman Houses

    Climb from the village to the Roman ruins with the small Byzantine church: 2-3 hours round trip.

  3. Afternoon

    Punta Troia or boat trip

    The castle on the northern spur on foot, or the boat tour of the island with a stop at Grotta del Cammello.

    Learn more

  4. Evening

    Return

    Return to Favignana or Trapani: schedules change depending on the season, check them at /come-arrivare.

    Learn more
Always check updated connections

What is history and what is legend

Documented facts

  • The cave paintings and rock engravings of the Grotta del Genovese in Levanzo are a recognized prehistoric archaeological site that can be visited with an authorized guide.
  • The Case Romane of Marettimo are remains from the Roman era, flanked by a small Byzantine church.
  • Aegates is the ancient name of the archipelago; Aegusa is the ancient name of Favignana.
  • The Battle of the Egadi in 241 BC ended the First Punic War: the bronze rams recovered from the seabed are displayed in the museum of the former Stabilimento Florio in Favignana.

Mythological attributions

  • The identification of Marettimo with Ithaca and of Trapani with the land of the Phaeacians is the literary hypothesis of Samuel Butler (1897), not an archaeological thesis.
  • The association of Favignana with the Island of the Goats in the Odyssey stems from the same hypothesis and remains one interpretation of the text.
  • Ulysses' landing at Cala Rotonda is a local tradition passed down on the island: no artifact documents it.
  • The names "Grotta di Ulisse" and "Arco di Ulisse" are commonly used place names, not historical designations.

Further reading

Real and verifiable references. No passages from the Odyssey or modern translations are reproduced here: the contents are paraphrased.

Continua a esplorare

Storia e cultura di Favignana

Dai Fenici alla tonnara dei Florio: i capitoli documentati dell'isola.

Mappa interattiva delle Egadi

Favignana, Levanzo e Marettimo con tutti i punti di interesse.

Come arrivare e collegamenti

Aliscafi e traghetti per le tre isole: orari e consigli aggiornati.

Was this page helpful?

Share it with anyone planning a trip to Favignana.