Have You Ever Wondered Exactly Where Favignana Is? In today’s article, we will reveal the precise location and the entire history of this island that has always sparked great interest. Let’s start by saying that the history of Favignana, and of the entire Egadi Archipelago, is very important for understanding the natural and cultural characteristics of this marvelous corner of paradise.
The history of Favignana is very ancient, dating back to the Upper Paleolithic period. As extensively demonstrated by archaeological finds, we know that the first human settlements in the Egadi Archipelago were discovered inside the caves of Faraglione as well as in the well in the San Nicola area.
There, shards of obsidian, fragments of worked bones, arrowheads, and pieces of domestic tools have been unearthed. Unlike the nearby island of Marettimo, Favignana and Levanzo had not yet become true islands and were instead connected by a narrow land bridge between Cala Dogana and the San Nicola area.
Known and loved by the Greeks, the island was later inhabited by the Phoenicians until 241 B.C., when the Roman army decided to defeat the Carthaginian fleet in the Battle of the Egadi at the end of the First Punic War. Certainly, few artifacts remain from the Roman period, mainly in the San Nicola area. With the fall of the Roman Empire, it was the turn of the Vandals and Saracens.
Here’s Exactly Where Favignana Is: Learn More
Favignana is an island that served as a prison and place of exile for several centuries. This practice was used since the Bourbon era to isolate criminals and individuals considered dangerous to society. Historical data is quite impressive, as in 1877, the island housed over 500 exiles, many of whom were reduced to extreme poverty and forced to wander.
The beautiful island of Favignana soon became a place of deportation for 292 Albanians and 1,757 Libyans, who were used as bargaining chips for the release of Italian prisoners. During the Fascist regime, a decree in 1926 intensified the use of exile, especially against anti-fascists.
Exile turned the entire island into a vast prison, causing suffering to both detainees and locals due to the degradation brought by the presence of the impoverished and criminals. The exiles were subject to stringent rules, such as curfews, bans on frequenting public places, holding meetings, or even leaving the town.
Sometimes, exiles were employed as laborers in the fields or the tuna fisheries, but work was scarce, and many were left to fend for themselves. After World War II, the mandatory stay continued on a much smaller scale, and by the 1970s, only two individuals arrived. Fortunately, this practice was eventually abolished.
