The place Odysseus threw a barbecue: exploring Sicily’s Favignana island

I cycled into birdsong, into color, the sunshine glimmering towards the white of the low stone partitions. There was a spaciousness as I cycled, a lateral stretching of soundscape, huge skies, birds fluting. I didn’t meet anybody else on the slim lanes and had a way of being fully alone on an island of two,000 folks. Is there something happier than being on a bicycle early within the morning, heading to the ocean?

The Egadi archipelago off the north-west coast of Sicily is a well-kept secret. Italians come right here on vacation, however the islands are comparatively unknown to worldwide vacationers. And a good better-kept secret is that these magical islands impressed the fantastical lands of the Odyssey, Europe’s oldest journey story. There are a complete of 5 islands and it’s attainable to go to three of them.

I’d come to Favignana, the the Odyssey’s “island filled with wonders” in line with one concept, as a part of my quest to find the real-life locations that impressed the Odysseus’s epic journey for my new book. As quickly as I set foot right here, I fell tipsily in love. The biggest of the islands within the archipelago, it’s nonetheless tiny, measuringless than eight sq. miles.

Based on one concept, this was the island the place Odysseus’s crew stopped earlier than he and some companions went off to fulfill the Cyclops. Favignana is supposedly the place they rested, hunted goats, barbecued them on the seaside and drank “sturdy pink wine” (although I didn’t see a single goat in on a regular basis I spent there).

The very first thing I did once I arrived was rent a bici from charming Marcello on the GAC rental shop proper by the port. There’s no want for a automobile, as a result of the island is so small and largely flat. Favignana boasts considered one of Sicily’s most famed seashores, Cala Rossa, and I got down to discover it. It was the positioning of a type of countless, complicated Punic wars – this cove was the place the Greeks had been badly outnumbered however fought their enemies so bravely that the seas turned pink with blood, giving the seaside its title. It’s a beautiful bike trip over and the rocky seaside is in contrast to any I’ve ever seen. Quarrying has left a legacy right here, and the massive, vertical standing stones look unusual and delightful. And the water is a neon turquoise.

There are many different – equally beautiful, if much less iconic – coves to go to. Lido Burrone is the island’s solely sandy seaside, and essentially the most dramatic is Bue Marino, a former quarry on the east coast the place the waters are deep and clear beneath partitions of rock. It’s essentially the most hanging place for a swim on the island, and a terrific place to observe the dawn. Cala Azzurra, close by, is a extra traditional cove, and proper above it’s a easy cafe the place proprietor Dario serves good panini and arancini.

For a little bit island, Favignana has a really bloodthirsty historical past. I discovered about this on the wonderful museum by the harbour. My information defined that Favignana was the positioning of the biggest tonnara (tuna fishery) within the Mediterranean, owned by the mega-wealthy Florio household (lately the topic of a movie, The Lions of Sicily, on Disney Plus, starring many islanders as extras). She confirmed me across the Nineteenth-century processing plant and defined all its darkish improvements – together with a sophisticated association of seven nets that took a month to arrange below water, and sinister lengthy, wood harpoons that had been viciously efficient. She informed me fish had been canned right here in astonishing numbers.

The plant closed in 1982 and, fortunately, bluefin tuna at the moment are topic to very strict quotas, however there may be proof of tuna fishing heritage throughout city in plaques and images, and within the ruins of the traditional boathouse buildings throughout the water.

In any case that historical past I grabbed a espresso from Maria on the Kiosko, a easy shack on Praia seaside, close to the manufacturing unit. It additionally serves wine and beer, to be loved on a deckchair dealing with the ocean. I sat right here for some time, studying extra concerning the geography of the Odyssey. There are many conflicting theories: some folks suppose Sicily was the island of the sun god, and Samuel Butler, a Victorian novelist, believed that Marettimo, essentially the most distant island within the Egadi archipelago, may very well be Ithaca, Odysseus’s dwelling island, the place he was desperately attempting to return to.

For breakfast the following day I headed to Caffè Aegusa within the village, subsequent to the yellow church, and watched as Italians guzzled huge brioche con gelato with their espressos. Ice-cream for breakfast, that’s when you realize you’re on vacation.

This island is way extra relaxed and scruffy than locations like Capri, though Camparia, a sleek new seaside bar that gives elegant cocktails and sundown views, is making an attempt to raise the scene. Bar New Albatros within the centre of the village is extra relaxed, with sturdy drinks, chilled vibes and a very good playlist. For dinner there’s a bunch of choices, from easy fried fish or spicy tuna kebabs at Pescheria Florio to extra refined eating at Sotto Sale. La Bettola turned a favorite for its scrumptious seafood spaghetti and pleasant service. Lorenzo, the proprietor’s son, will get up at 4am on daily basis to catch fish and calamari for the kitchen.

The island is about half-hour by hydrofoil from Sicily’s coast (in excessive season e-book tickets, together with your return, prematurely). It may be completed on a day journey from Trapani. However for me, Favignana will not be a spot to hurry round. To understand its wonders requires slowing down and spending a while right here.

I stayed in Casa Giorgia, on a quiet avenue in the principle village. There’s a variety of resorts and guesthouses right here and across the coast – simply remember to e-book effectively forward in summer season. I turned mates with native fisherman Silvano “Lo Squalo” ( the shark) and joined him to eat the fish that he’d caught that day and shoot the breeze (despite the fact that I communicate no Italian and he speaks no English). He’s nice firm and likewise affords rustic accommodation at his no-frills homestay within the countryside.

Often I roused myself to take a day journey – to Marettimo for mountaineering and hen watching, and to Levanzo to take a look at the cave work. For extra motion, you might e-book a ship tour with Capitan Sinagra, or go scuba diving within the protected marine zone.

However the easiest factor to do right here is channel the Italians and discover il dolce far niente, the sweetness of doing nothing. Favignana is a spot to simply be within the second, determine which course the wind is blowing from, choose a cove on the other coast (to minimise the prospect of jellyfish stings), seize a conventional pane cunzato (a roll filled with tomato, tuna, anchovy, capers and basil) for lunch from Jimmy on the Panificio Costanza and a few fig biscuits from Rosa at Antichi Sapori bakery, throw a swimsuit, some water and sunscreen in your bike basket and cycle to the seaside, preserving an eye fixed out for the peregrine falcons that stay excessive above on Monte Santa Caterina.

For me, Favignana feels way more like Circe’s island, a spot of magical enchantments quite than someplace to hunt goats. All of the geographical theories appeared fairly subjective, so why not invent my very own? I lay within the solar and dreamed of Odysseus crusing throughout the perilous seas, of goddesses that flip into birds, of all these infantile gods having their mood tantrums, and despatched out a little bit prayer of due to all these outdated gods for being right here on this real-life legendary island.

Enchanted Islands: Travels By means of Delusion & Magic, Love & Loss by Laura Coffey (Summersdale, £16.99) is printed on 2 Might. To help the Guardian and Observer, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com.