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7 hours
Sea and nature
Necessary
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The excursion from Palermo to Isola delle Femmine (via Mondello, Capo Gallo, Isola delle Femmine Marine Reserve and Sferracavallo) is a wonderful way to discover the beauty of the area around the Sicilian capital. Departure from Villa Igea, a neo-Gothic style structure built at the end of the 19th century and a historic 5-star hotel in Palermo. On request, departure also from La Cala and Mondello.
Continuing, we will reach the sandy beach of Arenella, a fishing village that developed around the Tonnara Florio during the nineteenth century.
It will then be the turn of the seaside village of Vergine Maria which settled around the Tonnara Bordonaro of the sixteenth century to get to Addaura, an area with the oldest history of Palermo.
Later, we will reach Mondello with its liberty villas where one of the most beautiful beaches in Sicily is located. Mondello is a sandy gulf with tropical colors. The landscape is influenced by the Capo Gallo Nature Reserve and the Monte Pellegrino Reserve, defined by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe as “the most beautiful promontory in the world”.
Mondello is a small seaside resort with a wonderful beach. It boasts a stunning 1.5km stretch of fine white sand, turquoise blue waters and a host of excellent seafood restaurants, numerous bars and a vibrant summer atmosphere.
Mondello was originally a fishing village. Two fortified towers were erected there in the 15th century as part of the coastal defenses of Sicily. Both still survive, the first overlooking the harbor, the second a little further north under the rocky boulder of Monte Gallo.
In Mondello there is the Antico Stabilimento Balneare, a unique building that represents one of the most beautiful liberty architectural works in Europe. The splendid waters of Mondello will be the occasion for our first swim in the sea.
We will continue to Capo Gallo, a karst relief rich in cavities, including the Fossa del Gallo, the Grotta Perciata, the Grotta dei Caprari, the Grotta delle Vitelle, the Grotta Regina and the Grotta Caramula. The Grotta Regina, where we will take a further swim in the sea, was a favorite place for bathing by Queen Maria Carolina and is the subject of many studies for the inscriptions that confirm the presence in this area of Phoenician and Punic groups of traders.
After skirting the Grotta dell’Oglio we will arrive in Barcarello (Sferracavallo). It is a village of small trulli about one meter high, very similar to those of Alberobello in Puglia.
The village of Sferracavallo extends around the small port at the foot of Capo Gallo and is mainly inhabited by fishermen. In the past, it was known for the cultivation of vineyards.
Sferracavallo was inhabited since prehistoric times by a tribe of hunters and root gatherers who found shelter in the various caves in the surrounding area. The most interesting cave, from a historical point of view, is that of the Hanged Man, inside which the remains of hippos and elephants have been found.
We will then reach Isola delle Femmine. It is a small jewel island shrouded in the mystery of the many legends that have studded its history. For snorkelers and scuba divers, Isola delle Females reserves authentic corners of paradise, in which to immerse yourself in the discovery of wonderful seabeds. At Isole delle Femmine we will stop for another fantastic swim in the sea.
Book Boat Excursion from Palermo to Isola delle Femmine (Half Day)
Departure at 10.30 from Villa Igea for the Isola delle Femmine Marine Reserve.
On request, departure also from La Cala and Mondello.
Our skipper will make you discover the wonderful coast of Palermo up to the Capo Gallo reserve.
On board a comfortable private boat with up to 12 people. The tour begins with a welcome drink and continues with the tour of the coast up to the Queen's cave where, according to the legend, Queen Carolina bathed in the sea, right in front of the Villa Igea hotel.
We will continue our route along the Addaura coast, passing by Monte Pellegrino, defined by Gothe as the most beautiful promontory in the world, in front of the Addaura Caves.
In Mondello there is the Antico Stabilimento Balneare, a unique building that represents one of the most beautiful liberty architectural works in Europe.
The splendid waters of Mondello will be the occasion for our first swim in the sea.
Leaving Mondello with its Art Nouveau villas and its sandy tropical colored sea, we will sail towards the Capo Gallo Nature Reserve and the Monte Pellegrino Reserve, defined by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe as “the most beautiful promontory in the world”.
We will continue to Capo Gallo, a karst relief rich in cavities, including the Fossa del Gallo, the Grotta Perciata, the Grotta dei Caprari, the Grotta delle Vitelle, the Grotta Regina (where it will be possible to swim in the sea) and the Grotta Caramula . In particular, the Grotta Regina has been the subject of many studies for the inscriptions that confirm the presence in this area of Phoenician and Punic groups of traders.
We will visit Barcarello in Sferracavallo, a village of small trulli about one meter high, very similar to those of Alberobello in Puglia.
The village of Sferracavallo extends around the small port at the foot of Capo Gallo and is mainly inhabited by fishermen.
Sferracavallo was inhabited since prehistoric times. The most interesting cave, from a historical point of view, is that of the Hanged Man, inside which the remains of hippos and elephants have been found.
We will then reach Isola delle Femmine. It is a small jewel island shrouded in the mystery of the many legends that have studded its history. For lovers of snorkeling and diving, Isola delle Females is a corner of paradise.
At Isole delle Femmine we will stop for another fantastic swim in the sea.
After a splendid day at sea, we will return to Villa Igea (Palermo). Expected arrival around 5:30 pm.