Rabbit Beach - Lampedusa Island

Finding the right adjective that can describe—and do justice to—the breathtaking beauty of Spiaggia dei Conigli. It's very difficult, but it probably won't come as a surprise to learn that it's considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. This was also confirmed by the "Travelers' Choice Beaches Award 2013"—a ranking based on reviews posted on the well-known website TripAdvisor—which placed it at the top of the global list Stretching magnificently along the southwestern coast of the island of Lampedusa, Conigli Beach consists of soft, pure white, and extremely fine sand—almost impalpable—nestled along a coastline with almost no vegetation and surrounded by a splendid, unspoiled landscape. The sea that laps at its shores is extraordinary in terms of its clarity and transparency, and the water temperature also remains quite warm. Skillful brushstrokes of color range across the infinite and stunning shades of green and blue. The sandy seabed remains shallow for a very long stretch from the shore. Adding to the beauty of this incredible natural landscape is the small island of Conigli, which rises right in front of the beach (access to which is prohibited) and can even be reached on foot, as the water depth in this area ranges from 0.30 to 150 m. This small island is the site of a curious and unique phenomenon: Cyclically (with a period ranging from 60 to 100 years), a fleeting “path” of sand, about 30 meters long, suddenly emerges from the seabed, connecting the island to the mainland for a brief period. The most recent occurrence of this kind took place in 2001. How to get there From the village, continue for about 6 km toward Capo Ponente until you come to a sign that says "beach"; at that point, turn left and continue for another couple of meters along a dirt road. Leave your car and continue on foot for about 20 minutes along a fairly rugged trail until you reach a terrace where you can enjoy a fantastic view of the beach. Just a few more minutes of hard work, and then... a very sweet reward By bus: Buses depart from Viale Roma or the port, but they don't run very often. The beach's popularity means it's very crowded, although you can still find a bit of peace and quiet among the flat, comfortable rocks Fun Facts Next to Conigli Beach stands what was once the villa of the famous Domenico Modugno Every year, in late spring, loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) lay their eggs on the eastern part of the beach. To protect this natural phenomenon, the beach is monitored by the agency that manages the Lampedusa Nature Reserve—of which the beach is a part—and access to the beach is prohibited at night. Rabbit Island is part of the Pelagie Islands archipelago. It covers just over 4 hectares, and its maximum height is 26 meters. The flora and fauna are similar to those found in North Africa, such as a particular species of lizard; In addition to being home to loggerhead sea turtles, the island is also an important stopover site for migratory birds that pass through in April and September, and it serves as the ideal habitat for the herring gull. The origin of the current name of Rabbit Island is a matter of debate. One theory holds that the term is a mistranslation of the English place name “Rabbit Island,” first found on a nautical chart from 1824; in fact, the term “coniglio” does not derive from the English word “rabbit,” but from the Arabic word “Rabbit,” which means “connection,” referring precisely to the isthmus that periodically connects the island to the mainland. Another theory, however, holds that the name derives from a colony of rabbits that settled on the island precisely at the time of the aforementioned phenomenon and later became extinct during the period of isolation. Lampedusa is only 113 km from Africa and is the southernmost point of Italy—so much so that it lies farther south than Tunis and Algiers. Photos: from Panoramio