All the colors of the Aeolian islands

In the Tyrrhenian Sea, off the northeastern coast of Sicily, the Aeolian Islands stick out. Lipari, Salina, Vulcano, Stromboli, Panarea, Alicudi and Filicudi were formed by of submarine volcanoes, which emerged about 700,000 years ago. They are sister islands, yes, but they are all surprisingly different, in terms of coulors and landscapes.

A tour of the Aeolian islands is a journey through primordial places: it starts from the fascinating caves guarded in the abysses of the sea and climbs up, higher and higher, up to the peaks of the volcanoes.

Lipari, the black and white island
Lipari shines thanks to the black of the obsidian that meets the white of the pumice stone. It is the largest island of the archipelago and is crossed by a maze of narrow streets that climb the mountains and offer unforgettable views of the sea. The coast is embroidered like lace by caves, coves, beaches and stacks.

Salina, the green pearl
Salina is not simply green, it is the greenest of the Aeolian Islands. The tops of the extinct craters are cloaked in woods and the entire territory is covered with vines, olive trees, capers, fruit trees and vegetable gardens. The real gem of the island is Pollara beach, a natural amphitheater surrounded by very high rocky cliffs that plunge into the sea. The sunset, from here, is a breathtaking sight.

Vulcano, the black island
On the island there are four volcanoes that give the coasts of expanses of black sand like pitch. Precisely because of these four fearsome hosts, Vulcano remained uninhabited for many centuries. To be amazed, just take a guided hike to their peaks and enjoy a rugged and wild landscape, almost primordial. Not to be missed for any reason in the world is the mud that flows from the subsoil and renders the skin smooth as silk.

All the decades of Panarea
It is the smallest and most fashionable of the islands of the archipelago and, for some, even the most beautiful. The square and streets are teeming with cafes and refined boutiques and the pier is dotted with luxurious yachts. The real lustres of Panarea are, however, the traces of a millenary history. In fact, near Punta Milazzese you can admire the suggestive stone huts of a prehistoric village.

Stromboli, the glowing island
Stromboli is a black cone by day and glowing red in the evening. The island is dominated by an active volcano and from the sea, at night, you can admire the impressive "sciara del fuoco": the lava comes out of the crater and descend to the sea to leave all spectators speechless.

Filicudi and Alicudi, two green jewels
Filicudi and Alicudi are the most distant islands from the coast and the most unspoiled. Filicudi is covered by lush Mediterranean vegetation and boasts a suggestive prehistoric village dating back to the Bronze Age. Alicudi is a circular island all covered with heather. Discovering it is like going back in time: half of it is uninhabited and the only means of transport are the donkeys that climb the dirt paths.
This is just a small preview of the colors and beauty that the Aeolian Islands offer to travelers. Discovering them one after the other will be an unforgettable experience.