The Aeolian Islands for a Sicilian-based holiday
The idea that you could visit an island with an active volcano is reason enough for some to pick the Aeolian Islands for a Sicilian-based holiday. I believe the more you discover about these islands, the more you will wish to know. Let me introduce you to the islands themselves because there are several of them. You can explore Vulcano, Salina, Stromboli, Lipari, Panarea, Filicudi and Alicudi. The islands are quite rightly UNESCO-protected so we can feel happy that future generations will be able to enjoy them as much as we can today.
An article of this length can act as nothing more than a brief introduction to the islands, but it is here I hope to ignite your passion for them. My mention of volcanic activity will lead you no doubt to wonder where the volcanoes are. Well, there are two of them – Stromboli and Vulcano. You could probably have guessed that last one!
Stromboli has been rumbling away ever since 1934 and continues to do so to this day. However it has been more than a century since anything happened at Vulcano, so while it sounds highly volcanic it isn’t actually doing anything now. We never know quite what lies beneath the surface though, do we?
The islands each have something different to offer, and while I have mentioned the two that boast their own volcanoes, the others should not be put in the shade by them. Filicudi and Alicudi are the smallest of the seven islands, and as such, they have little in the way of facilities. However, this could be heaven for many people so they may just appeal to you in the best possible way.
Perhaps the highlight of the seven, apart from Stromboli for its active volcano, is Panarea. It can be quite busy and lively during the summer months but when things die down they do so spectacularly.
Even if you decide to stay in Sicily itself it is well worth going out to at least one of the Aeolian Islands to see what is on offer there. Perhaps a walk, a swim in the sea, or a trip up Stromboli to get as close to an active volcano as you dare (conditions permitting, of course). Milazzo is the place to go in Sicily itself when you want to head across to the islands since there are good ferry services from here. The other option is to get a hydrofoil from the same place.
