Photo by Salvatore Spano

SERPENTARA ISLAND

Serpentine Island. Its name probably derives from the island's shape: it appears to snake out along the sea. It lies about two miles off the coast and it's covered by Mediterranean maquis, with a coast of granite rocks. The sea area between the the two shores has been declared zone "A" of the Marine park, which means no navigation is allowed, unless by authorized personnel, however  iy's possible to join organized diving tours. The opposite side of the island has been, instead, declared a "zone B" area where only low speed navigation is allowed (10 knots) and scuba diving with oxigen tanks have to be authorized by the competent authorities. A very rare fly trapping plant grows on the island, the name is Dracunculus muscivorus, it's a dark pink arum lily which emanates a putrefaction smell to attract flies to allow the pollination. On the island stands the San Luigi tower built during the 16th century, it was armed with four havy duty cannons to guard the coast by the Saracenic pirate ships.