"Favignana" a Isola Favignana Travel Page by jeffmartinartist

In 1999 I arrived in Palermo on the overnight ferry from Naples. It was early and I had no plans other than a coffee. I was on a four-month holiday and wanted to explore Sicily so facing the city I tossed a coin, heads east and tails west. Tails took my girlfriend and me by bus to Trapani and we were dropped off at the port near some ferries and small hydrofoils. A few questions and a ticket later I was on my way to the most breath taking little island of Levanzo. I booked a room above a restaurant with the most amazing roof top balcony and went for a swim.

After a few days here I knew it was time to move on, I was getting to relaxed and in danger of just stopping. We needed cash to pay the bill before moving on and there are no banks on Levanzo. The island of Favignana had a bank and was closer than Trapani so it was decided to make a day of it. Ferry to Favignana, get money, explore island, dinner and ferry back to the room on Levanzo.

Arriving in Favignana I sorted out the bank and walked towards the main square where I met a young man running a small bar. He was friendly and after talking for a short while he worked out my girlfriend and I were Australians and involved in the food industry. He gave us lunch and introduced me to a few of his friends and before I knew it I was heading back to Levanzo, collecting our bags, paying for the account and moving into bungalow accommodation on Favignana run by this blokes, girlfriend’s, mother.

The next morning was one that changed my life. Every day that I travel, I draw. I get up, walk to a café have two coffees and settle down somewhere with a sketchpad. This day it was at the Porto di Favignana and the fishermen were returning from the open seas with their catch. I sat at U Bar du marinau, watching all the activity and as usual there was a bit of interest in my work. The next day I went back and the day after that and so on and then something began to change. I think the locals are quite use to having the odd tourist wander in and take a photo and leave but I was in no rush and kept on turning up very early, every morning. They began allowing me to paint and photograph them without being self-conscience, which is what any artists needs if they are to get to the heart of a topic.

Long story short, I have fallen in love with the island of Favignana and it’s people. I have been there in 1999, 2001 and 2003 for extended periods. Recently I had and exhibition in Melbourne Australia, titled ‘FROM FAVIGNANA’. The Italian Government, Birra Moretti and Donnafugata wines sponsored the show and all this happened because I met a nice person on the way to the bank. Don’t you just love the adventure of travel.

I will post many tips about Favignana and my work can be seen at http://www.jeffmartin.com.au