Overview
The Aeolian Islands are considered sisters of the pearls of the Pacific, Hawaii. They are seven enchanting islands that were originally uninhabited or sparsely populated.
However, today they are very popular thanks to tourism.
They are a popular destination for VIPs, especially the island of Panarea. On Panarea, Capo Milazzese preserves a perfect trace of the cultural settlement that lasted from 1,440 to 1,270 B.C., creating an interesting archaeological settlement.
One of the most characteristic is Vulcano. The latter seems to be a remnant of prehistoric times, its territory smoking for centuries amidst waves and boiling mud gases. The eruptive mouth of the Vulcano gorge reaches 386 metres. The large crater can be reached without too much effort or great danger. Another interesting area to visit is the alum caves and the sulphur galleries, where in Bourbon times a population of prisoners condemned to the extraction of precious minerals lived.
Speaking of the Aeolian Islands, we must mention Lipari, which is probably the best known island. Lipari has always been the heart of the archipelago. Its museum, one of the most interesting in the Mediterranean, preserves many traces of the island's history and subsequent stratification. In the open-air excavation, enclosed by massive walls with towers, texts from 5,000 years of civilisation have been found that are still legible. Moreover, between Canneto and Acquacalda, two pretty villages, you will find areas that have not yet been contaminated by mass tourism. The main feature is the spectacular obsidian flow of the Rocce Rosse (Red Rocks) that stretches down to the sea. Not to be forgotten are the monumental cliffs of Perciato, with a spectacular sea beyond which rise the gaseous, sulphurous fumes of Vulcano. Lipari is an island for all tastes, offering shady gardens that smell of jasmine and basil, sunny terraces open to the sea, where culinary hospitality has its own tradition.
Another fabulous island is Salina. Visiting Salina means visiting Monte Porri and Monte Fossa delle Felci. Here, at a height of almost 1,000 metres, the old crater has been colonised by giant ferns that, in addition to the lush vegetation, give this island a typically tropical look.
Not far from Salina, Alicudi and Filicudi stand out against the sky. Far from the tourist crowds, both islands offer areas where one can abandon oneself and meditate, something almost unimaginable in the chaotic rhythms of our civilisation. Near Canna, a rich seabed of sponges and corals offers incredible views for underwater photo enthusiasts.
Last but not least is Stromboli, which rises from the sea with its dry symmetrical shapes constantly dominated by eruptive smoke. Stromboli is home to Ginostra, a small island village that can only be reached by sea via its harbour, the smallest port in the world. Beyond the glassy black beach rises Strombolicchio, the volcano's main channel, a fascinating natural sculpture where fire, water and wind have left their eternal mark.
