Gardens of the Impossible: Favignana Subterranean Green conversion

In the previous post I have presented the Florio Cannery. We are now at a the second itinerary of our journey.

Apart from fishing, the other traditional activity of the inhabitants of Favignana was limestone quarrying. The type of limestone found on Favignana is a unique material widely used in construction throughout Western Sicily. For example the Monreale Cathedral (A UNESCO heritage site in Palermo since 2015) is almost entirely built in “tufo” from Favignana. The effects of this age-old mining activity are very apparent throughout the island. In fact, the quarries in Favignana are everywhere, even in the city centre. Ingeniously, the islanders have converted these now defunct quarries into wonderful gardens and orchards which have become main attractions rather than potential hazzards. The “Garden of the Impossible”, an former limestone quarry in the Bue Marino district, is undoubtedly the most beautiful example of a ‘green’ conversion. The credit, of course, goes to its owner Maria Gabriella Campo who, with great determination, has succeeded in creating a botanical garden of great interest.