Page 4 - Massoli-Novelli_2005

140 R. Massoli-Novelli

Fig. 3 – The pillar of the excavation activities
spectacular (Fig. 4), whereas the second one
Pilastro calcare-
nite quarry, in has a regular square shape
Setteminne of which would be very suitable as
Favignana. This a stage for open-air summer
is a recently ope-
ned quarry, as shows by night.
witnessed by the Along the south-eastern
marks of the dig- coast another natural geo-
ging machines. It morphosite is found: the “Grotta
has now been
abandoned and, Perciata” (12). Here the sea hol-
hopefully, should lowed out a cave which has par-
be reclaimed tially collapsed, leaving only an
and appraised
(photo by Mas- interesting arch and a little shel-
soli-Novelli). ter for two or three fishing
La spettacolare boats. Further to the south-east,
cava di calcare- the “Cala Azzurra” is found,
nite del Pilastro,
in località Set- which is another coastal geo-
teminne di Favi- morphosite (13) of great scenic
gnana, una cava value, with the only sandy
recente come
mostrano i segni beach of the island, which is
delle macchine divided into two parts by an
tagliatrici, abban- outcrop of compact calcarenite.
donata da poco Finally, after this series of
ed in attesa di
una auspicabile prevalently coastal geomorpho-
valorizzazione sites, an outstanding internal
(Foto Massoli- site is found on top of the
Novelli).
Mesozoic carbonate ridge at the
centre of the island: Mount
Santa Caterina (14), at an altitu-
de of 314 m a.s.l., where the
Fort bearing the same name
rises and from which a specta-
cular view over the village, the
harbour and the calcarenite
quarries can be enjoyed.

2.2 Isle of Levanzo
Levanzo is a small hamlet
located in a very beautiful inlet
on the island’s southern coast.
As soon as one arrives there, an
interesting geomorphosite (1) is
immediately noticeable: it is
made up of a large, steep, tec-
tonic pinnacle of Mesozoic car-
bonate rock, subsequently mo-
delled by erosion, which hangs
over the sea and the hamlet.
Following the path to the
west, another similar geo-
morphosite (2) is immediately
visible: the well-known “Fara-
glione di Levanzo”, an imposing
block of Mesozoic dolomitic
limestone, which was first isola-
ted by tectonics and then by
sea erosion.
Proceeding uphill towards
the “Grotta dei Genovesi”, one
crosses an area named “La
Fig. 4 – Ancient calcarenite coastal quarry in San Nicola, isle of Favignana. It probably goes
back to Medieval times and its floor is at present under 20-30 cm of sea water (photo by Mas- Fossa”, which is another geo-
soli-Novelli). morphosite (3) corresponding to
a karst depression, the only one
Antica cava costiera di calcarenite a San Nicola, isola di Favignana, di età probabilmente
medioevale, dove il pavimento è oggi ricoperto da 20-30 cm di acqua di mare (Foto Massoli- on the island. This site was cul-
Novelli). tivated up to a few years ago