Lachea, a tiny island off the coast of Sicily is for travellers who like to collect unusual experiences.
Whether for their own enjoyment, or to post on Instagram that they have been somewhere others have not, this tiny speck of land in the Archipelago of the Cyclops off the coast of Sicily fits the bill.
Eight volcanic stacks make up the archipelago
The Cyclops Archipelago owes its name to the legend according to which the Faraglioni are the rocks that Homer in his Odyssey says were thrown by the one-eyed giant Polyphemus at Ulysses and his companions as they fled on board their boat. Lachea, which is only 250 metres long by 150 wide is the largest of the eight volcanic rocky stacks that make up the archipelago.
A nature reserve with a small museum
They lie just off the coast of Aci Trezza, the coastline of which is known as the Riviera of the Cyclops, some 30 kilometres from Catania. At the end of the 19th century the family that owned them gave the right to use the stacks to the University of Catania. The Nature Reserve the university created has allowed the preservation of the ancient rocks, flora and fauna of the area, making the island a true natural paradise.
The landing area is rocky
At the port of Aci Trezza visitors will find no shortage of little boats for hire to take them across to the island. The crossing only takes a few minutes and visitors are left on Lachea’s rocky shoreline. This cannot really be called a beach as there is no sand, just rather uncomfortable rocks and slippery boulders, and anyone looking for a convenient spot to sunbathe is advised to go early in the morning as the area around the landing fills up.
Bring lots of water!
The water is transparent and the sea is rich in fish, so it is a great choice for snorkelers. The few building that can be seen belong to the study station of the Museum of the Sea which houses archaeological finds discovered in the area. There are no facilities, and no shade, so visitors should bring provisions and lots of water.
Do a tour of the archipelago
Better alternatives are to hire a boat to do a tour of the little archipelago, or to rent a pedalo pedal boat or a canoe at the bathing establishment on Aci Trezza’s beach which is in front of the island. It is certainly the best way to spend time enjoying the beautiful views and seas in this very beautiful area.For information: https://pti.regione.sicilia.it.
