The underwater museum of Pantelleria

Punic and Roman amphorae inhabit the depths of Cala Tramontana. Here the ships found shelter from the winds and a good landing on the seabed that gradually degrades towards the coast. In the third century a. C. ships from Sicily, Greece and the East docked there. The centrality of the island in the Mediterranean was ideal for the exchange of goods such as oil, wine, dried fish and spices contained in the amphorae. In 255 a. C. there was a great battle advanced by the Romans for the conquest of the Carthaginian island. The sunken ships took with them the treasures stored in the holds. The Underwater Park of Pantelleria was born from this millenary history, which can be explored with a guide. All the finds, except some recovered for study reasons, have remained lying on the seabed where they are reported and cataloged. Many of the amphorae are of Tunisian, therefore Phoenician, manufacture, coins and lead ingots were also found in them, testifying to the dominant role that the island had in trade.