The Islands of Italy | Salina

Guide to the ISLAND OF SALINA IN THE AEOLIANS  The Island of Salina, with an area of 26.8 square kilometers, it is the second island for surface and population after Lipari. It was formed by six ancient volcanoes, including the highest mountains in the archipelago: the "Fosfa delle Felci", 961 meters, and the "Monte dei Porri", 860 meters. Its ancient Greek name "Didyme" (= twins) derives from these two extinct volcanoes. Instead, the present name comes from a small lake from which salt was extracted. Around the 7th century A.D., when the volcanoes on Lipari were still active, Salina was one the most populated islands. It was later abandoned at the time of the Arab invasions, and was inhabited again only starting from the 17th century. It is the most fertile and water-rich among the Aeolian Islands, and capers and fine grapes are grown from which the "Malvasia delle Lipari," a sweet wine, is derived. WHAT TO DO ON THE ISLAND OF SALINA 1. THE VILLAGE OF SANTA MARINA It is the main town on the island and is located on the slopes of Monte Fossa delle Felci. The imposing eighteenth-century church overlooks the entire centre. This is also the liveliest town on the island: there are shops, bars and numerous cafes. Furthermore, entering the Civic Museum will be like making an authentic journey through the history of the island. 2. BEACH OF POLLARA One of Aeolian Islands most beautiful beaches. The dark rocks and pebbles of the coast are in contrast with the white cliff overlooking the sea. It can be reached by sea or by walking along a fairly demanding path. It’s worth it, also because some scenes of Massimo Troisi’s The postman were shot here. 3. THE VILLAGE OF MALFA A pretty village located on the north coast of the island. Its white houses are distributed along the slope that reaches the sea. A small beach embellishes the village. And the eighteenth-century church of Sant’Anna preserves numerous paintings and sculptures. 4. RISERVA NATURALE LE MONTAGNE DELLE FELCI E DEI PORRI This nature reserve it is recommended for every hiker: there are numerous paths that reach the top of Monte Fossa delle Felci. 5. VILLAGGIO PREISTORICO DI PORTELLA Dating back to Bronze age, this prehistoric village is composed of more than twenty oval huts carved into the rock. Several objects have been found here, from stone tools to pottery. 6. VISIT THE BEACHES OF SALINA Pollara, although certainly beautiful, is not the only one of Salina beaches: other places that would deserve a visit are Scario, Santa Marina and Rinella.   HOW TO GET TO THE ISLAND OF SALINA To get to the Aeolian Islands, therefore to Salina, all you have to do is board one of the ferries departing from Naples, Reggio Calabria, Messina and Milazzo.

The Islands of Italy | Palmarola

Guide to PALMAROLA ISLAND The beaches at Palmarola Island, part of the Lazio Region are on Italy’s western coast in the Pontine Islands. It is a place that is noted for having many natural grottos and cliffs and even a few restaurants that operate in the area on a seasonal basis. The beaches are extremely clear and the water is relatively calm around the area. People who are particularly adventurous can get into the Cava Mazzella, a cave located right on the island near some of the beach spaces. WHAT TO DO ON THE PALMAROLE ISLAND This lost, wild treasure isle, popular with weekending Romans, is considered by many as the Med's most beautiful. It's a trip back to the Jurassic age, with lush vegetation, fluorescent blue waters, grottoes and massive sea stacks. The Cathedrals are impressive cliffs. I Fucili (the Rifles) are the leftovers of a collapsed natural arc. The golden and silvery pebbled inlets are so smooth it's like swimming in an artificial pool. Getting to Palmarola island: from Rome drive or take the train to Anzio for the Ponza ferry. Then from Ponza daily ferries departure from the port. Where to eat on the island: there's one restaurant -- O' Francese (+39 077 180080) -- that rents cave dwellings. The owners serve fresh fish from the net and take guests to the highest peak at sunrise. Where to stay on the island: Casa del Fauno (+39 3687497816) rents apartments and organizes tours from nearby Ponza island.

The Islands of Italy | Aeolian Islands

Guide to the AEOLIAN ISLANDS  The Aeolian Islands are a 200km-long volcanic system off the north-eastern coast of Sicily consisting, in addition to the seven emerged islands - Alicudi, Filicudi, Lipari, Panarea, Salina, Stromboli and Vulcano - of the submerged seamounts Alcione, Lametini, Palinuro, Glabro, Marsili, Sisifo, Eolo, Enarete.   Called the "Seven sisters" because they were born from a same mother, Gea, the islands have a rugged, wild landscape. Their name comes from the god of wind, Aeolus, who according to the myth chose this remote location as his abode. And Ulysses probably landed there, where he met the monster Polyphemus, one of the Cyclops, forgers employed by the god of fire Vulcan. The emerged islands were formed in the last million years, while the submerged parts have a slightly older age: the oldest formation - the submarine volcano Sisyphus, located north-west of the island of Alicudi - dates to about 1.3 million years ago. On Lipari, Vulcano and Stromboli volcanism is still active, while on the other islands it ceased between 5,000 and 20,000 years ago. On Lipari the last eruption occurred in 729 A.D.; on Vulcano in 1890, on Stromboli the activity has gone on continuously for at least 2,000 years. The magmas of the Aeolian Islands are similar to those of the volcanoes of the Pacific "belt of fire": with the passing of time they evolved towards ever more basic compositions, with lower silicon content and more potassium. ISLANDS OF THE AEOLIAN

The Islands of Italy | Alicudi

Guide to ALICUDI ISLAND | AEOLIAN ISLANDS Alicudi has an area of 5.2 square kilometers, and was once known as Ericusa, since it was rich of Erica. It is the westernmost in the archipelago, about 34 nautical miles west of Lipari. Dominated by the Filo dell'Arpa mount, an almost perfectly circular, extinct volcano of 5 square kilometers, the island is characterized by rugged, steep cliffs that plunge into the sea to a depth of 1,500 meters and rise up to 675 meters. It is inhabited only along the eastern coast by about a hundred people. Even today you can see the terracings created by agricultural activities of past centuries; the island is covered with a very beautiful vegetation of agaves, prickly pears, capers, red bougainvilleas, roses, violets, oranges and heathers. Fishing, instead, did not develop much due to the presence of pirates and raiders in those waters. The sea is only accessible through small pebble beaches. Today the main products of the island are olives, grapes, capers and fish. Getting around THE ISLAND OF ALICUDI With no electricity and no engines, the only transport around this Italian island is donkey "taxi" -- and they're essential. There are no paved streets, just 25 kilometers of mule tracks winding around the island and no fewer than 10,000 steps up and down layers of whitewashed dwellings. Alicudi, the farthest and wildest of the Aeolian Islands, offers a no-frill, zero sound-pollution break amid turquoise waters and silent beaches. Visitors should bring cash as there are no banks. There's a tiny supermarket and news stand, but no other shops and nowhere to buy cigarettes, not that anyone should be smoking and tackling all those stairs. Getting there: from Messina there is daily ferry routes. Naples is linked by high-speed boat. Eating: Restaurant Ericusa (Via R. Elena; +39 0909889902) serves traditional dishes like spaghetti with caper cream. Where to stay: Casa Hibiscus Resort (+39 3409207605) is an Aeolian-style villa with seafront terrace. Alicudi (Italy)