Cala Azzurra

Cala Azzurra is located in the southern part of the island of Favignana in the Egadi archipelago in the province of Trapani in Sicily. The anchorage is in an inlet sheltered from the wind in a stretch of sea so clear and blue that it has given the cove its name.

The calm, crystal-clear water on a shallow and regular seabed give the impression of being in a tropical paradise similar to the Caribbean. On either side of the beach are irregular rock walls, and the shoreline is quite rugged with shallow water.

Cala Azzurra can also be reached by land quite easily, and the place is so picturesque that in summer it is very crowded, to the point that it is difficult to find some space.

Boats can moor quite far from the beach, partly because there are many swimmers swimming out to sea, and the seabed remains shallow for many meters from the beach.

Swimming in such a transparent and calm sea is a unique experience, and snorkeling enthusiasts will find the ideal environment here.

Favignana is the largest of the islands that are part of the Egadi archipelago, which has a total of three islands, two islets and a few reefs, totaling 37.5 km². Cala Azzurra is about 7 km from Sicily and is located on the opposite side of the island from Marina di Favignana, which is the island’s main landing place and home to an equipped port.

In July and August, finding a place in the stretch of sea surrounding Favignana is very difficult; in addition to boaters, there are numerous shipping companies that conduct sightseeing tours of the area at all hours.

The entire marine area of the Egadi Islands is protected and is part of a nature reserve that has an area of about 54,000 hectares. The Egadi Islands nature reserve is the largest in Europe, and is also a site of community interest under the protection of the Sicily region.

Some areas of the marine reserve are completely off limits to navigation, while others have partial protection. Favignana is easily circumnavigated, is 9 km long and 4 km wide, and has the characteristic butterfly-like shape that earned it the nickname of the great butterfly on the sea.

Around the coasts are numerous caves that can only be reached by sea, which are popular destinations for scuba diving enthusiasts. Other popular areas for diving are the Toro and Galeotta shoals, which are beaten by both private individuals and local diving centers.