Bagno Asciutto di Benikulà (natural sauna)

About Bagno Asciutto di Benikulà (natural sauna)

The Bagno Asciutto (Dry Bath) of Benikulà is one of the most unusual experiences in all of Italy: a natural sauna inside a cave, in the green heart of Pantelleria, on the slopes of Montagna Grande. There's no water to soak in here: hot steam at around 38 °C comes out of cracks in the rock and fills a small hollow with stone benches. You go in, sit down and sweat, like a Turkish bath created by the volcano.

To get there, leave the car near the Benikulà district, in the Sibà area, and walk for 20-30 minutes along a path through Mediterranean scrub and terraces. The walk itself is part of the pleasure: from up here there's a beautiful view over the coast and the interior of the island.

The cave has two chambers with stone benches. Our advice is to stay inside for only a few minutes at a time, go out to cool down and drink plenty of water. In high summer it's best to avoid the middle of the day, when the heat of the sauna adds to the heat of the sun on the path.

Because of all this, Benikulà is not suitable for small children, people with heart or blood pressure problems or pregnant women. For everyone else it's a unique experience, ideally combined with a swim in the sea in the afternoon, perhaps at the Grotta di Sataria or Scauri.

In the same area are the Favare, steam vents that can reach temperatures close to 100 °C: they're interesting to see on a hike, but should only be watched from a safe distance, as they are in no way suitable for bathing or for getting close to.

The path is easy but exposed to the sun for long stretches: wear a hat and closed shoes and carry at least a litre of water per person. When you enter the cave, lower your voice and leave room for other visitors: the beauty of Benikulà is its silence, broken only by the gentle hiss of steam coming out of the rock.