A stunning island with its colors, flavors, scents. I had the honor to participate in this marriage but mostly to stay in Favignana a few days to enjoy the colors of the sunset sky of this beautiful land. Days very unique, moved on to explore the place and be in the company of the couple and their families. Thus creating a small reportage of both the marriage but also of the previous days, the dinners and the whole landscape of Favignana.

James and Karly have chosen the location of your wedding, the tonnara island, Favignana. An exclusive event, the first marriage celebrated in the former factory Florio. On the door of the establishment, above the coat-of-arms of Florio, there is an inscription: “The industry dominates the force” and thanks to this sentence is immediately clear to the industrial context in which these sites belong. Under this written, once passed more to 800 people a day. In the months of May and June, tuna fishing found its climax, with the capture and the killing, the months before they were dedicated to the preparation of equipment and the installation of networks, networks that no longer exist. There remain only the models exhibited in an exhibition at the Municipal Palace and the old warehouses restored of the Florio establishment, now the jewel of industrial archeology, a restoration which he made it visitable, after decades of neglect. Inside there is an archaeological museum with ancient artifacts found in the Egadi, Phoenician and Roman times. There is also a lounge with showing photos of Salgado, Magnum Agency photographer, who portrayed the fishermen of the tuna, beautiful shots in black and white.

The Favignana sea is always crystal clear. Also next to the harbor, where at dawn and dusk the fishermen stalls fill of the colors of red mullet, shrimp, squid, mullet and sea bass. As soon as you disembark from the ferries that from Trapani leads in the main of the three Egadi islands(the others are Levanzo and Marettimo), the word that bombards the tourist city streets is “tuna.” There’s “House of the tuna”, the “Salumeria tuna”, the “tuna salad”, “tuna which won the prize in 2011” and the bar that makes an aperitif made with tuna. The town of Favignana is undoubtedly capable of catapulting the visitor in a relaxed and tranquil atmosphere, ideal for a beach holiday away from the hectic city life. Of course, that by which Favignana excels is undoubtedly the sea, unspoiled, with paradisiacal sites as the golden beaches that often turn pink thanks to the coral brought by the currents. A wonderful island for its inhabitants, for their hospitality, I, the bride, groom and their respective guests, we felt to be part of a big family and not as “foreigners” who were there just for a holiday.

The marriage on the tonnara island was a unique and unprecedented event in the history of Favignana and is why it has aroused great interest among the locals, which intrigued rushed to witness the event. James is a famous architect, was born in London and lives in Italy, Karly is American, chef-owner of a famous Florentine catering company. Karly chose Casa Faro as a place of preparation, a new villa, situated in a beautiful Mediterranean garden on one of the fascinating areas of the wild and unspoiled island of the tonnara, Favignana. Karly did not want to be seen by guests before reaching the altar, so with his father reached the former factory Florio in the car. He seemed serene, his appearance belied how he really felt, nervous. On arrival at the plant Florio, his father Mark expertly accompanied her to the altar. They were greeted by musicians playing violins, leaving gaping guests but especially the groom. Finally, after a long wait, James and Karly were united in marriage. The weather was a little cloudy and a few drops of rain fell but no one was worried. They were thrilled and happy to be present with James and Karly. Dinner was accompanied by a spectacular orange sunset. You could not ask for anything better to end this beautiful day.

Special thanks to Marica of  Maricaevents for the impeccable organization