Journey to the Aeolian Islands, eight experiences not to be missed

MOdnellate by volcanic activity, the sea and the wind, the Aeolian Islandsinserted since 2000 in the heritage of the sites UNESCO as Historical model in the evolution of world volcanology studiesare rich in beauty and culture. A masterpiece for the eyes and for the heart.

Aeolian Islands, registered on the UNESCO Heritage Sites list since 2000

Registration on the list of World Heritage Sites List of humanity dates back to 2000 and this is the poetic description. «In the north-east of Sicily, Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Stromboli, Filicudi, Alicudi and Panarea are the seven islands of the Aeolian archipelago, such as A sort of archaeological park in perennial evolution: the ash, the lavas and the eruted material preserve the vestiges of the past and return them perfectly preserved. Seven islands where atincomparable nature, beaches, coves, caves, inlets, faraglioniare added the incomparable variety and richness of marine funds, in addition to the various geological and volcanological aspects of seven thousand years of history “.

For I woman We visited four of the seven Eolian islands: Lipari, Vulcano, Salina and Panarea. Here you are Our suggestions and suggestions If you plan a trip to the north-east islands of Sicily.

Take a gum ride and a walk on the island of Panarea

Panarea is the smallest of the archipelago islands and has other small islets around: Basiluzzo, Bottaro, Dattilo, White List and Black Lisca. A rubber ride is strongly recommended, to admire the rocky formations up close and to dive into the clear waters. «In some places the sulphurous hot water bubbles caused by submarine volcanic activity», As the skipper tells Rosario Viola.

Make an excursion to the large crater of the pit on the island of Vulcano

Volcano It is the third island of the archipelago in size and the southernmost of the Aeolian Islands. The ancient island of Hephaestus, Greek god of firebecame “volcano” with the Romans and remained uninhabited due to the strong volcanic activity. Currently the activity is limited to fumary emissions, present almost everywhere, The last large eruption took place in 1888 and formed many volcanic bombs, called bread crust for their appearance.

“Volcanic bombs had an expulsion speed of 700 meters per second,” explains the environmental guide Marco Antonino Girgenti. “This expulsion speed caused the external part to cool very quickly, while the interior, remaining very hot and still full of gases, then split the external crust creating an effect that gives it the name” Bread crust bomb “”. From the top of the crater, to which you arrive with a path considered to be of medium difficulty of about 45-60 minutes, you can enjoy a Incredible view on the island of Vulcano, the other Aeolian Islands and the surrounding sea. It is recommended to consult the access regulations and times and to wear a trekking technical clothing.

Visit Lipari and discover the four holidays dedicated to San Bartolomeo

Lipari, the ancient Greek Meligunis, is the largest and most populous island of the archipelago, where the presence of man has been constant for over six thousand years. Important the Fortified fortress of the Lipari Castle With the ancient Norman cloister, the thirteenth century cathedral, the thirteenth century church of Purgatory, the acropolis and the remains of the Greek-Roman tombs, the archaeological museum and the baroque churches.

“The fortified fortress stands on a volcanic cathedral”, as the expert of the Eoodle territory tells Sarah Tomasello. «A particular thing about the Rocca del Castello is that there are five churches, including the cathedral of San Bartolomeo, patron of the Aeolian Islands, which is celebrated four times. The most important feast is August 24, with the procession and fireworks, the San Bartolo dei farmers, the San Bartolo dei Pescatori and the San Bartolo of the earthquakes is celebrated. In the past, there have been many earthquakes in the past, but no one has never died, and this fact is attributed to the protection of San Bartolomeo».

Lipari Castle was inhabited starting from the Neolithic age, about 6000 years ago, until our century. The testimonies of the settlements of all ages have overlapped as those of the previous periods creating a considerable raising of the land. The Archaeological excavations have brought to light a succession of layers more than 10 meters high due to the overlapping of the remains of the inhabited areas that have followed, remain well preserved also thanks to the accumulation of the ashes issued by the nearby volcanoes and transported by the wind.

Walk through Santa Marina di Salina and visit the vineyards of the Caravaglio winery

Once landed on the island of Salina you can take a very pleasant walk through the alleys of Santa Marina di Salina, among the local craft shops, and the small kiosks where you can take a granita. Here were also shot some scenes de “The postman” and, in the Walk dedicated to Massimo Troisi, The bicycle is exhibited used by the actor in the film. In Malfa there is the Caravaglio wineryto which you arrive after passing the vineyard Le Torricelle. Here, in this vineyard 120 meters above sea level, which comes from the road to the cliff, the Malvasia di Lipari. “It was introduced by the Venetians in the second half of the 1600s,” he says Antonino Caravaglioarchitect and manager of the Caravaglio Cellar of Malfa (Salina).

«It has always been destined for sweet wine, the passito. In 2009 we were among the first companies to vinify it without drying, to give rise to dry white wines. The ancestrality of this vine can also be understood from the “parsley” of the leaves, which recall the leaves of the parsley. In the Caravaglio winery there is also a beautiful Capera plant, which is 140 years old. “My grandmother was born in Boston in 1898,” says Caravaglio, “at the age of seven years, when she came to Sicily, she collected the capers from this plant. It is beautiful and to keep it I left the wall of the cellar a little core ».

Where to eat

Food in the Aeolian Islands, as in all of Sicily, is unforgettable. Starting from breakfast, with Brioche and granita, with typical tastes such as mulberry, almonds and coffee. In Marina di Salina there is the Chioschetto da Silvio in via Colomboto savor it in front of the sea. For the typical cunzate breadwith olives, onions, baked ricotta, rocket, aubergines and mozzarella, for example you can enjoy admiring the bay of Marina Lungo, in bar ofHotel Villa Enrica of Lipari (For lunch, even those who are not a guest of the structure can also access).

Among other options for lunches and dinners, the chimera restaurant of Lipariwhere it Chef Massimiliano Salaformer accountant who has decided to change his life dedicating himself to the kitchen, offers genuine and tasty dishes of tradition using typical ingredients of the territory and km0. TO Panarea There is a magical place, where the wonder of the sea marries the poetry of the dishes: Custitated. A special terrace, with a female catering that evolves the recipes of the tradition of the grandmother, where the eyes and the palate explode of pleasure.

How to move to the Aeolian Islands

Among the simplest and fastest options to move between the Aeolian Islands there is the application Ferryhopper. It is a platform for the reservation of ferries and hydrofoils founded in 2016 by four young people. The application allows you to Compare prices and itineraries of over 160 operators in real timeMake unified reservations for multiple companies and receive digital tickets (also on Apple Wallet), monifumentanto live ferries, managing multilingual customer service by multilingual customer service on WhatsApp. A way of living the sea in a simpler way, having the opportunity to select the most convenient travel options.

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