Island of dammusi: accommodations and pantescan gardens

Pantelleria has a rich past full of fascinating events, events that have shaped the island’s morphology, roots, and traditions. One of the most significant was the Arab settlement, which left marks still visible today in many aspects of the island: from the names of hamlets to agricultural methods, and even architecture.

The Spanish invasion also left its mark, evident in the surnames and some customs that are still present. Just look at a Pantescan face to recognize a captivating blend of Sicilian and North African features.

The island has always been a crossroads of cultures — a combination of differences reflected in its places, people, and habits. And this is precisely what makes it unique.

The Pantescan Way of Living

Among the Arab influences is the dammuso, a house made of lava stone, with white domed roofs and thick walls that shield from the heat and retain coolness. These are architectures born from the earth, handmade, designed to last, and to collect rainwater, a precious resource for the Pantescans. The island is dotted everywhere with these structures, welcoming travelers just as they once welcomed families.

There’s no ostentatious luxury here. There is a discreet, authentic luxury: the luxury of silence, space, and time.

The Secret Gardens

Another tradition is the Pantelleria gardens, which takes its name directly from Pantelleria. It is a unique agricultural architectural form in the world, developed on the island as an ingenious response to extreme weather conditions: strong winds, blazing sun, and water scarcity.

The term "garden" doesn’t refer to a vegetable patch or decorative space, as commonly understood, but to a dry stone wall enclosure, circular or elliptical in shape, built to protect a single citrus tree, usually an orange, from harsh elements, especially the salty maestrale wind.

Today, the giardino pantesco is a symbol of sustainability and resilience. The garden of Donnafugata has been recognized and protected by the FAI (Italian Environmental Fund) as an example of harmony between nature, architecture, and agriculture.

Experiences to Enjoy

Sleeping in a dammuso is an experience in itself. But it's also a starting point, to explore, to walk, to observe. You can cook with local ingredients, meditate in a secret garden, let the sun’s light gently awaken you as it brushes the stone.

At sunset, the domes of the white dammusi turn orange. Living here, even for a few days, is a way to rediscover yourself in connection with nature.

Curiosities and Local Words

The origin of the word dammuso is not entirely certain, but the most accepted theories trace it back to two possible roots:

1. From Latin domus, meaning “house” — referring to the residential function and essential nature of the structure.
2. From Arabic dammūs, which referred to a vaulted, excavated, or stone-built space, often used as a storage room or shelter. This meaning closely aligns with the original form of the Pantescan dammusi: stone-built, often semi-buried structures created to provide shelter from sun and wind, and to collect rainwater.

Giardino Pantesco – Why is it called that?

1. “Giardino” comes from the Arabic word jannat (جَنّة), meaning paradise, a protected and lush place.
2. “Pantesco” because this structure is typical of Pantelleria — it develops only here, in close connection with the landscape, the lava stone, and the local farming knowledge.

Travel Tips:

-Book your dammuso as early as possible: especially during high season, availability runs out quickly.

-Pack a small travel kit: even though every dammuso is well equipped with towels, soaps, and essentials.

-Bring a light sweatshirt or windbreaker: even in summer, the wind can cool the air quickly.

-From the terrace — or for the more daring, from the roof — of your dammuso, admire the sea and the sunset; it will surely be the most beautiful you’ve seen.

Rural landscape of Pantelleria with vineyards, ancient stone dammusi, and green hills. Terraced vineyards with dry stone walls and a circular lava stone dammuso in Pantelleria’s landscape.