Long Island or Big Island in the Stagnone Lagoon
The largest of the islets in the Stagnone Lagoon is called Long Island or Big Island (Isola Longa or Isola Grande). It extends from Capo San Teodoro to Capo Lilibeo at the point of Capo Alga. It forms kind of protection barrier from open sea and makes the lagoon a very special place.
Time ago the Long Island consisted of five smaller islets (Frati Janni, Altavilla, Burrone, Sorci and San Todaro). Between these islets there were canals to allow the water turnover. They were Straboria Canal, Ravine Canal and the Mouth of Tramontana. These canals have been closed and turned into saline. Time has shown how this closure had been a mistake for Laguna’s health.
Formerly the islet was a feud of Altavilla family, from which it took one more name, that is Altavilla Island. Lately Adragna family bought it and restored the salt pans.
Apart boats to Mozia / San Pantaleo Island, other boats to Santa Maria island and Long island leave from the small embarkment on the coast .
Capo San Teodoro near the Stagnone Lagoon
You can reach Santa Maria island even on foot.
At Capo San Teodoro there is a tower. Actually there are two or maybe three old towers, a lovely tiny beach lido and a restaurant on the sea. The place is unique. In fact it is possible to walk to the nearby Longa island, crossing a stretch of sea whose backdrops are 20-30 centimeters high. Sometimes you can see in the sea trucks carrying grapes or other materials.
The walk on the water is really funny.
Scola islet, in the Stagnone Lagoon
Scola Islet, the smallest one, is located in the central part of the Stagnone Lagoon. During wars, this was the place where they would lock leprosy patients. The name is related to the school of rhetoric which Roman established there.
Probably Cicero also came here during one of his trips to Sicily. The island is the only one to belong to the municipality of Marsala.
In 2015, the “Schola Project” had the aim of re-qualifying the island. There are only three buildings and all of them are in ruins, abandoned, at the mercy of the wind and the sea. The islet instead could become a unique tourist attraction point. After an appropriate restoration of the ruins, the Schola islet could host a true amphitheater with three hundred seats.
Other projects presented to the municipality by entrepreneurs would make it the first Stagnone oriented museum.
Santa Maria island
This is a small island between Mozia and the coast of Birgi. The name comes from the sanctuary of Santa Maria Valleverde. Hidden in the pines there is the owner’s villa, Manzo family, with numerous statues and inscriptions.
On the Wall of Proverbs ( in sicilian Muro delle n’Giurie) there are some tiles with writings of Sicilian proverbs.
Francesco Manzo, Mayor of Trapani from September 1943 to August 1945, purchased the island. A statue surrounded by ancient pots and fatty plants represented Manzo himself. Vineyard and olive trees still grow in the island.
A nice tour to Santa Maria island
Some tours organizes visits to Santa Maria island, during which it is possible to visit the wall of the proverbs and “punta maggio” beach, delimited by a beautiful pine forest. Along the paths through the Mediterranean coasts only wind moving the pines, song of birds and cicadas cut off the silence.
The tour also organizes lovely happy hours on the island, after the lagoon tour and admiring the sunset on the boat.
Night excursions are even more interesting. They start at sunset and end in the morning, after seeing the sun rise over the sea. It is possible to eat, sleep, dance in the pine forest by the sea and swim in the night …If you hate chaos of crowded beaches this is perfect. Just a small paradise.
Photos: Maria Virzì