This Underrated European Island Known As The ‘Santorini Of Italy’ Is All The Rage Right Now

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Home to Blanche ‘choras’ that cling vertiginously to cliff-sides, and picture-ready blue dome churches, it’s no wonder Santorini is one of the most popular European summer getaways.

If only Greece’s most picturesque island weren’t so incredibly crowded, and overnights in those iconic cave hotels with swim-up suites wouldn’t cost thousands of euros a night…

But hey, who said Santorini keeps a monopoly on the whitewashed-island aesthetic?

Over in Italy, in the Tyrrhenian Sea, there’s a tiny island most tourists are yet to discover, and Instagrammers have not ruined, offering quaint coastal towns, beautiful sea coves, and a taste of that slow Mediterranean life:

Ever Heard Of Italy's Hidden Santorini?

Lying off the coast of Sicily, a short 30-minute hydrofoil ride from the busy port city of Trapani, Favignana is the largest island in the Egadi archipelago, and the up-and-coming summer hotspot you've been waiting to hear about.

I mean, it's even been handpicked by Christopher Nolan as the setting for his next big Hollywood blockbuster, The Odyssey, which is, you know, a classic Greek tale.

A tiny landmass covering an area of only 14.2 square miles yet packed full of ancient sights and natural wonders, Favignana is one of those places you can easily see in full over a couple of days or a long weekend, but you won't be in a rush to leave once you're there.

Picture a flat coastline interspersed with coastal settlements and shallow bays bathed by turquoise waters, and a lush countryside criss-crossed by biking pathways, passing idyllic farms and rolling vineyards: la dolce vita at its prime.

Oh, and did we mention the picture-perfect capital?

A Charming Harbor Town & Delicious Food

The main town on the island, Favignana (same name as the island) is dotted with family-owned trattorias, cozy cafe terraces and gelato shops, and it's famous for its low-rise cubic buildings colored light sand or off-white:

Not striking white, like Santorini, but the parallels are there to be found, especially along the waterfront, where there's a number of boutique hotels and renovated villas that have been given a chalk-white makeover.

One of the best beaches on the island, Cala Rossa is a peaceful sand-and-gravel strip backed by a limestone cliff, a scenic 20-minute bike ride away, and if you happen to be craving some pasta and local wine, Trattoria da Papù has a long list of Sicilian delicacies at affordable prices.

Have You Seen All Those Turquoise Calas?

Beyond the quaint harborside capital, Favignana is home to a storied tuna cannery. Once the property of the Florio family, it is now a museum chronicling the island's rich tuna fishing history—needless to say, there's no better place to get souvenirs.

A fairytale castle on top of a hill overlooking the teal-colored Mediterranean and a rocky coastline, Castello di Santa Caterina is a must-do hike for culture buffs and nature enthusiasts alike, and for the water babies out there, options are endless:

There's Bue Marino, a stretch of coast encompassing stone quarries and secret coves; Grotta Perciata, a sea cave framed by beautiful arches and offering photo ops and snorkeling opportunities; and don't forget the aptly named Cala Azzura, with some of the bluest seas you've ever seen.

Favignana Is Fairly Affordable—And Better Even, Uncrowded!

Santorini-esque as it may be, Favignana is nowhere as crowded, or expensive as the iconic Greek island: exact visitation figures are unclear, but it seems to average under a million per year, and we suspect it's mainly Sicily-originated.

As for all that delicious pistachio pasta, made-on-the-spot sourdough pizzas, and nonna-baked mandorle sweets, you'll hardly blow the budget by treating yourself a little in Favignana:

Expect to pay roughly $10–$15 for a main dish in a local restaurant, or $30–$40 for a 3-course dinner by the harbor.

Accommodation-wise, a one-bedroom apartment in the center of Favignana Town will set you back $ 82 a night (check out La casetta in Centro), or if you're more of a hotel person, a single room at the 3-star Favignana Hotel costs from $123 to book.

This summer, Americans can fly nonstop from New York (JFK) to Catania (CTA), in southeastern Sicily.

Though it is 145 miles from Trapani, the gateway to the Egadi Islands, Catania has train and bus services going pretty much everywhere in Sicily: once there, you'll have no issue finding a land-side connection to Trapani.

One-way hydrofoil or ferry tickets from Trapani to Favignana start from an inexpensive $7.