Vulcano, Salina, Lipari, Alicudi and Filicudi

.MILAZZO – VULCANO – HOURS OF NAVIGATION 3

Our tour begins in the impressive port town of Milazzo, a concentration of history and art. It lies at the foot of the Arab-Norman castle, the largest fortified citadel in Sicily. It is definitely worth a visit before you leave for the Aeolian Islands.

About three hours by boat from Milazzo is the island of Vulcano, one of the most impressive anchorages in the Mediterranean, right at the foot of the smoking volcano. According to mythology, Hephaestus, the god of fire and forging, lived on this island.  At the foot of Mount Etna.

After a pleasant swim and lunch on board, you can go ashore for a very impressive hike to the crater or spend the afternoon at the characteristic mud baths on the east side and the hot water beach, where underground gasses heat and boil the sea, creating a completely natural thermal bath. In the evening, the village of Vulcano offers a surprising variety of cafes and stalls. You can spend a few hours before returning on board and spending the night in port under the stars.

VULCANO – SALINA – HOURS OF NAVIGATION 3

After a good breakfast and a refreshing swim, we set sail for the island of Salina. It is the second largest island of the Aeolian archipelago after Lipari. Salina is the greenest island of the whole archipelago. It is also of volcanic origin and consists of 6 extinct volcanoes.

Our first stop on the island of Salina will be the beach of Pollara, one of the most famous in the Aeolian Archipelago. The fame of Pollara comes both from the beauty of its beach, which consists of a sandy bay surrounded by an imposing rock wall in the shape of an amphitheater, and from the film “Il Postino”. In fact, most of the filming of the famous movie with Massimo Troisi was shot here.

In the afternoon we set the sails again to the island of Salina. Here we find the villages of Lingua and Santa Maria. We can go ashore for a walk in the lively center of Santa Maria or visit the renowned Hauner Winery to taste the typical products of the island such as the famous capers of Salina and Malvasia delle Lipari.

SALINA – LIPARI – HOURS OF NAVIGATION 2

In the morning we set sail for one of the most photographed beaches of the Aeolian Islands. The beach of Pietra Liscia which is located on the northeast side of the island. It is characterized by the presence of pumice stone. And gives the water an incredible play of colors between blue and turquoise. A morning of diving and swimming awaits us among the small pumice stones.

After lunch, we set sail to circumnavigate the island in a pleasant trip of about an hour. We can stop for a last swim at Valle Muria beach, where the sand mixed with black and red pebbles shows the volcanic origin of the island in all its beauty. A little further away are the famous Faraglioni of Lipari. With full sails we sail between the two rocky giants that emerge from the sea in the southern part of the island.

Arriving on the third day of the vacation, we treat ourselves to a night in the port of Lipari, where we can enjoy the largest city center of the Aeolian Islands, with its lively alleys lined with cafés and typical trattorias, in a relaxed and sparkling atmosphere.

LIPARI – ALICUDI – HOURS OF NAVIGATION 6

We set sail in the morning from the port of Lipari to the west. We discover the most authentic and wild side of the Aeolian archipelago. After about 6 hours of sailing, with lunch in the shade of the sails, we reach Alicudi. In Alicudi, still today, in the middle of the twenty-first century, you can enjoy the taste of a simple and primitive life.  Islanders are always ready to welcome newcomers to their land with a smile.

Here it will be possible to go ashore to visit this remote and lost corner of the country. Almost out of the world! There are no roads or means of transportation. The island can be visited through small alleys and stairs that lead to the top of a former volcano. That is no longer active! The only use of transportation on the island are cute mules. They help tourists and locals carry things from the sea to the top of the island.

In the evenings, as the sun sets, the island is lit only by the small lights from the houses, providing a spectacle of stars. Silence and the chirping of crickets accompany our night in a mystical and unforgettable atmosphere.

ALICUDI – FILICUDI – HOURS OF NAVIGATION 2

We say goodbye to the small world of Alicudi and head for its older sister Filicudi, about two hours away by boat. We stop near the characteristic village of Pecorini a Mare. Here we will spend the morning between snorkelling and relaxing in the sun. In the afternoon, anyone who wants can go ashore and visit the small fishing village.

Lovers of trekking and excursions will not miss a visit to Zucco Grande (about 4 km away), where, according to geologists, is the oldest part of the Aeolian Islands, formed about a million years ago. From here, continue to the village of Capo Graziano, one of the oldest prehistoric settlements in the archipelago (about another 4 km). Finally, return to Pecorini a Mare or wait for us in Filicudi Porto on the opposite side of the island, where we will spend the night.

FILICUDI – VULCANO – MILAZZO – HOURS OF NAVIGATION 6

We leave Filicudi in the morning for the last leg of our journey. Stopping at the southern end of the island of Vulcano after about 4 hours of sailing. Here we find Cala Cannitello, a charming beach with the finest black sand surrounded by the emerald green of the vegetation. An excellent place to relax and a good lunch before leave . In the afternoon we return to the port of Milazzo in about 2 hours. Having full of the beauties of this archipelago still in front of our eyes .