Scauri: Hot Springs, Roman Remains and Diving
Accommodation in Scauri
Warm Springs and Panoramic Views
Scauri reveals its distinctive features in very different places. The Acque Calde San Gaetano springs reach temperatures of 40 to 50°C through secondary volcanism. Before their water reaches the sea, it is collected in small pools built by people in antiquity. A path leading to the springs begins at the “La Vela” restaurant in Scauri. In the upper area of Kúddia di Scauri, shortly before the summit, there is a viewpoint for panoramic photographs and watching the sunset.
File:Scauri, Pantelleria, Trapani, Italia - 13 Agosto 2016.jpg
Photo: Giorgio Galeotti via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Roman Remains in the Bay
The Bay of Scauri is home to a late Roman settlement dating from the 5th century AD. The village made use of the bay’s natural terraces; some walls were carved directly out of the lava blocks. This village was associated with the local production and sale of “Pantellerian Ware” pottery. The bay is therefore of interest to visitors interested in historical settlement forms, traces in the material remains and the history of local pottery.
Porto di Scauri and the Lava Coast
At the entrance to the harbour of Porto di Scauri, a medium-sized shipwreck lies on sandy ground at a depth of 6 to 10 metres; it sank around the end of the 5th century AD. The coast near Punta Tre Pietre and the Faro di Scauri consists of lava rock; the water becomes deep quickly there. Porto di Scauri is protected from the Levante, Tramontana and Maestrale winds. As a result, in addition to its geological features, the coast also has a clearly recognisable maritime character.
Diving and Underwater Observation
When diving from a boat off Punta Tre Pietre and the Faro di Scauri, you may see moray eels, corals, Sferococchi and Axinella colonies. At Porto di Scauri, a drift dive from a boat follows a sandy underwater area and a rock wall down to a depth of around 40 metres. For your planning, the focus on marine life therefore differs from an orientation towards the historic bay or the warm springs.
A Local Event in August
On 7 August, Scauri holds a procession for San Gaetano da Thiene.
Plan Your Stay in Scauri Around Your Interests
If you are looking for a hotel in Scauri, it helps to ask what your main interest is: warm springs, a viewpoint, the Roman settlement, volcanic coastline, shelter from the wind at Porto di Scauri or boat dives. For a more culture-oriented stay, the late Roman settlement, the terraces, the lava-block walls and the pottery tradition are particularly relevant. Those more interested in geology or the sea will find concrete points of interest in the themes of the hot springs, lava rock and diving. You can therefore organise your days around the places and experiences you actually wish to include.
More Places for Planning Your Trip
Castelluzzo, Castelvetrano, Biscione, Xitta, Guarrato, Paceco, Buseto Palizzolo, Ciavolo
For the higher-level travel overview: Trapani.
