Have just enjoyed a wonderful week off exploring the Aeolian Islands.
There are 7 islands in total & are located off the north coast of Sicilia.
Stromboli & Volcano are still active!
Lipari is the largest island at 37.6 sq km, where I based myself for 4 days.
Pumice quarries are still an important part of the economy.
The tourist season doesn’t really begin until June so everywhere appeared very sleepy as if everybody was still waking up after a winter of hibernating! Or maybe it’s a chilled out atmosphere all the time.
I was impressed by how uncommercialized & unpretentious the islands are. Reminded me of Turkey 20 years ago.
From Lipari I took the hydrofoil across to Vulcano, known as the Island of Fire by the Greeks & therefore called Vulcano after the God of Fire. The smell of sulphur is very noticeable when you arrive on the island. Trekked up the smoking volcano, Vulcano della Fossa. The views are great from the top looking across to all the islands & the Sicilian mainland.
Next I relaxed in the smelly sulphur mud pools. By the time I returned I was stinking of sulphur too!
The next island I explored was Salina, the second largest at 27 sq km & the most fertile. Quality Malvasia & Black Corinth grapes are cultivated to produce Malvasia sweet wine.
Caper cultivation is also very important to the local economy & are exported worldwide. Did you know the caper is the unclosed flower bud! They are hand-picked & preserved in salt. Before being eaten they are soaked in water to remove the saltiness & to restore their taste & aroma.
Salina is the highest island in the archipelago so I trekked to the top of Fossa delle Felci at 962m. More incredible views over all 7 islands.
The Italiano film Il Postina (The Postman) was filmed on Salina.
On to Stromboli the furthest away from the Sicilian mainland & 4th largest at only 12.6 sq kms. Stromboli is known as the Lighthouse in the Tyrennian Sea due to the constant eruptions which create a natural light. The volcano erupts every 15-20 mins! I heard the explosions throughout the night!
After the very strong eruption in 1930 many locals emigrated, mainly to Australia then returned with their Ozzie accents! Many abandoned buildings have also been bought by wealthy Italianos as holiday homes.
Transport around the harbour town is by ‘golf type’ buggies known as Moto Apes! They are in fact Piaggio Ape 50’s which have lots of character.
Saw the house where Ingrid Bergman & Roberto Rosselini filmed Stromboli in 1949 & fell in love!
Returned to the mainland via all the islands for a last look before I hopefully return again one day!
The best way to see the Aeolian Islands is by foot, so try our ‘Sicilian Volcano Hike‘ tour.
Tags: Aeolian Islands, Italy, Stromboli, volcano, Vulcano
agree with your sentiments, cant wait to return