Living like a local in Pantelleria
Ask anyone who lives here what they love most, and the answer will always be the same:vbeing in nature, walking, harvesting, listening. But above all: living slowly.
Pantelleria teaches you to slow down. Not to stop, but to see more clearly. To savour every gesture, every encounter, every patch of land. And to truly do that, the secret is to spend time with those who know this island day by day.
How to discover Pantelleria through a local lens
Stay in a dammuso Sleeping in a dammuso is like entering the island’s breath. Thick stone walls, white domes, silence and coolness. These houses were built in harmony with the land. Many have been restored and can be rented—an authentic way to feel part of the place.
Stroll through Pantelleria town and the hamlets Take your time for breakfast in the village square, among cafés, shops and familiar voices. Stop and chat. In Pantelleria, you’re never a stranger for long.
Walk among trails and vineyards Montagna Grande, Gelfiser, the Kuddie: here, hiking is not just a sport. It means moving through a landscape that shifts with wind and light. Every step reveals the island’s geology and past.
Relax in natural hot springs Warm water, steam, volcanic rock. Choose a pool at Gadír, the sauna cave of Benikulà, or the thermal springs of Nikà. Here, wellness is natural—you don’t build it, you find it.
Swim in a rocky cove Cala Cinque Denti, Cala Tramontana, Balata dei Turchi: no beaches, just black lava rock and deep blue sea. Pantelleria doesn’t give itself away easily, but once it does, it stays with you.
Watch the sunset—and then the stars Wake early or stay late. Pantelleria’s skies are a show: from the fiery eastern sunset to constellations shining above in the quiet of night.
Harvest together Plants grow low to the ground—it's the only way to survive the wind.
Farming here means slow, ancient gestures, crouched hands and sun-warmed backs. Picking capers, olives or zibibbo grapes isn’t just work—it’s listening, learning, connecting.
Many farms welcome visitors who want to take part: they teach you how to recognize plants, follow the seasons, and work in silence, guided by the earth. It’s not an activity—it’s immersion.
Look for stories: the ones whispered between vines and sunsets, under a pergola or over a meal made from the land.
To deepen your experience of Pantelleria’s slow lifestyle, read also: A break in Pantelleria: relax among the island’s natural hot springs