Porto di Marettimo

Marettimo is the most mountainous and wooded island among the Egadi, as well as the one geographically farthest away; in fact, it is about 20 nautical miles from Trapani. It is a wild and impervious island, characterized by marvelous fauna and vegetation: an extremely valuable heritage that has managed to survive thanks to man’s low impact on the environment.

Marettimo is the perfect island for trekking lovers, with its many trails and 400 caves to discover. The sea caves are what more than anything else makes Marettimo a unique and incredible island. The most famous are the Grotta del Tuono and the Grotta del Presepe, known to most for its stalactites and stalagmites, but the list is wonderfully long.

For those with a boat, it is then possible to reach the many pebble bays and myriad beaches, which are difficult to reach from the mainland but easily accessible from the sea.

Diving enthusiasts will not be disappointed. The seabed is all to explore and hides great wonders: one example is the merchant shipwreck off the coast between the village and Punta Bassana. Sunk around the 1960s, the large cargo ship lies partially silted up at a depth of 20 meters. Caves, coves and shoals then offer the opportunity to dive into their crystal clear waters to discover the rich marine flora and fauna.

Climbing Mount Falcone, the highest point on the island (almost 700 meters above sea level), you will be able to enjoy a unique and unforgettable view.

The only inhabited center on the island is the town of Marettimo. Bars, restaurants and supermarkets are not lacking but are present in very limited numbers. There are no hotels on the island, but many private individuals make their homes available to provide temporary lodging for tourists.

The ports of Marettimo extend around the town. To the south we find the Scalo Nuovo (New Port); the Scalo Vecchio (Old Port), on the other hand, lies to the north of the town.

The Scalo Nuovo, the larger of the two, consists of a 230-meter-long quay set on a south-east axis and a large yard, also quayed, in an adjacent position. Inside the port is a floating dock that is used for mooring pleasure boats.

This floating dock is open during the summer season, so from May to September, and is managed by the Big Game nautical club, founded by members who are passionate about sport fishing. The Scalo Nuovo dock, on the other hand, is managed by the Maritime Authority.

Scalo Vecchio is located, as mentioned above, at the northern end of the village. It lies within a cove that is partly rocky and partly consists of beach. The slipway is protected to the east by a 100-meter-long pier, internally quayed and set on a NNW axis.

The seabed within the cove is moderately shallow, hovering around 3 meters deep. The Scalo Vecchio is well protected from winds coming from Quadrant III and IV and offers excellent shelter to small boats. It provides 20 berths: 10 of these are reserved for boats in transit. Only vessels up to a maximum of 15 meters in length can access the Scalo Vecchio. The prevailing winds within the cove are Levante and Grecale.

Very few services are offered. Piloting, mooring, rescue and salvage are provided; however, any other kind of services are lacking, except for slipways.