Cala Rossa

Cala Rossa is one of Favignana's beautiful stretches of coastline. One of the most visited, Cala Rossa is one of the most evocative places on the island.

The transparent sea and flat rocks create a truly suggestive scenario. It can be reached by boat or by land, in the latter case one is forced to go on foot. A long descent leads to the rocky coast of the cove, and to get to the sea you have to climb over a rocky wall. It is not recommended to do the overland route with children under 5 years old, the elderly, pregnant women and people with physical disabilities.

Cala Rossa is undoubtedly capable of astonishing the visitor, thanks to a water colour of an unparalleled crystal blue set in the golden of the calcarenite quarries, with the island of Levanzo dominating the horizon of the cove's panorama. The name 'Cala Rossa' (Red Cove) is said to derive from the Carthaginian blood shed by the Romans during the First Punic War and in particular during the so-called 'Battle of the Egadi' in 241 B.C., which is said to have dyed the water red and also to have ended, with the defeat of the Carthaginian fleet, 24 years of war. The Roman commander, Lutazio Catulo, sank over 50 Carthaginian ships and captured 70, causing thousands of casualties and forcing Carthage to surrender. According to history, although the battle was fought off the coast of Levanzo, a strong mistral wind dragged the blood of the many dead to the shores of this cove, which then took the name Cala Rossa.