Aegadian Islands

Aegadian Islands

The Aegadian Islands (Italian: "Isole Egadi"; Latin: "Aegates Insulae"), are a group of small mountainous islands in the Mediterranean Sea off the northwest coast of Sicily, Italy, near the city of Trapani, with a total area of convert|14.46|sqmi|km2|2.

Favignana ("Aegusa"), the largest, lies convert|10|mi|km south west of Trapani; Levanzo ("Phorbantia") convert|8|mi|km west; while Marettimo, the ancient "Iera Nesos", convert|15|mi|km west of Trapani, is now reckoned as a part of the group. There are also two minor islands, Formica and Maraone, lying between Levanzo and Sicily. For administrative purposes the archipelago constitutes the comune of Favignana in the Province of Trapani.

The overall population in 1987 was estimated at about 5,000. Though winter frost is unknown, rainfall is low. The main occupation of the islanders is fishing and this is where the largest tuna fishery in Sicily can be found.

There is evidence of Neolithic and even Paleolithic paintings in caves on Levanzo, and to a lesser extent on Favigana.

The islands were the scene of the Battle of the Aegates Islands of 241 BC, in which the Carthaginian fleet was defeated by C. Lutatius Catulus; the engagement ended the First Punic War. With the end of western Roman power, the islands, to the extent that they were governed at all, were part of territories of Goths, Vandals, Saracens, before the Normans fortified Favignana in 1081.

The islands belonged to the Pallavicini-Rusconi family of Genoa until 1874, when they were bought by the Florio family of Palermo.

External links

* [http://www.levanzoresidence.com Residence a Levanzo]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Aegadian Islands — noun ɪˈɡeɪdiən ˈaɪlændz A group of islands located off the western coast of Sicily. In the Mediterranean and Adriatic seas lie several archipelagos of small Italian islands, some measuring only a few hundred meters across: the Pontine Islands,… …   Wiktionary

  • Aegadian Islands — /i gay dee euhn/ Egadi. Also, Aegadean Islands. * * * …   Universalium

  • Aegadian Islands — /i gay dee euhn/ Egadi. Also, Aegadean Islands …   Useful english dictionary

  • Aegadian Islands — Ae•ga′di•an (or Ae•ga′de•an) Is′lands [[t]ɪˈgeɪ di ən[/t]] n. pl. geg Egadi …   From formal English to slang

  • Egadi Islands — ▪ islands, Italy Italian  Isole Egadi,  also called  Aegadian Islands,  Latin  Aegates Insulae,         small mountainous group of islets belonging to Italy, in the Mediterranean just off the western coast of Sicily, with a total area of 15… …   Universalium

  • Battle of the Aegates Islands — Infobox Military Conflict caption=Location of the Aegates (modern Aegadian) Islands conflict=Battle of the Aegates Islands partof=the First Punic War date=March 10, 241 BC place=Aegadian Islands, western Sicily result=Decisive Roman victory;… …   Wikipedia

  • List of islands in the Mediterranean — This is a list of the islands in the Mediterranean Sea: Contents 1 By area 2 By country 2.1 Albania 2.2 Croatia 2.3 …   Wikipedia

  • List of islands of Italy — This is a list of islands of Italy. Islands in the Mediterranean *Aeolian Islands **Lipari **Panarea **Salina **Stromboli **Vulcano *Aegadian Islands **Favignana **Levanzo **Marettimo *Asinara *Bergeggi *Ferdinandea *Flegrean Islands **Capri… …   Wikipedia

  • Marettimo — Coordinates: 37°58′10″N 12°03′26″E / 37.96944°N 12.05722°E / 37.96944; 12.05722 …   Wikipedia

  • List of countries spanning more than one continent — This is a list of countries spanning more than one continent, sometimes referred to as transcontinental states. The definitions of what continent(s) a particular country covers may vary according to which criteria are used (whether purely… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”