Aeolian Islands

Origin and Myths:
The Aeolian Islands are a small archipelago of 7 islands off the northern coast of Sicily. They are joined by its common volcanic nature and by numerous legends and epic tales.
They are in fact called the islands of the God of Winds, Aeolus, who, according to Greek mythology, was chosen by Zeus to control the Winds; these had in fact already caused many damages, as the detachment of Sicily from the rest of Italy. Aeolus guarded them and placed them in a goatskin, kept in a cavern in Lipari.

When Ulysses, returning from Troy war, arrived at Lipari, Aeolus hosted him and, being touched by the heroic tales about Ulysses, decided to donate him the goatskin. As soon as Ulysses, after leaving the island with his ship, fell asleep, his companions, believing that the goatskin would contain a treasure, opened it and release all the Winds, which immediately caused a terrible storm. Ulysses’ ship was the only one which managed to survive the storm.
 

    

The 7 sisters:
The enchanting beauty of the Aeolian Islands depends on the uniqueness that each of them is able to preserve.
Lipari is the biggest and the most densely populated. It offers the possibility to combine nature, beaches with culture and leisure.
Lipari as well as Salina is moreover the most convenient departing point to visit the other islands, thanks to efficient transport connections that pass by the island.

Vulcano is characterised by the intense smell of sulphur that can be unbearable when you first arrive on the island. Vulcano is a huge open thermal resort. Next to the very well known black sand beaches as Porto Levante and Porto Ponente, you can also visit the much more quite Cala del Formaggio and Cala di Mastro Minico, or reaching the most isolated bays by boat.
Salina is the greenest island and its luxuriant vegetation allows the cultivation of vines (in particular of the fine malvasia vine), olives and capers.
Panarea is the smallest and the most lively among the Aeolian Islands. It is the favourite destination for VIP and it is full of night clubs, music and glamorous parties.
Stromboli is the emerged top of a volcanic cone that has its base at 1400 metres below the sea level. The excursion up to the crater is one of the most requested activities by tourists, also in its night version, which allows to appreciate even more the bright reflections of the eruptions.
Filicudi and Alicudi are located on the West side of the archipelago and they are the least visited ones by tourists. Each of them hosts a Natural Reserve, which contributes preserving the savage, mysterious, isolated and inaccessible state of the islands.

   

Food and Wine Specialties:
Salina Capers, Slow Food Presidium – Salina capers are particularly compact and scented and are produced without using almost any chemical fertilisers and antiphrastic. The harvest is manual and takes place from May to August, every 10 days. The fruit of capers, called ‘cocunci’ are also very much appreciated; they are bigger and less flavoured, but ideal to enrich appetisers and salads. Try now Salina Capers, Salina Cucunci and Salina Capers Pesto.

Lipari Malvasia Wine – Sweet and aromatic, it’s a meditation wine. It is a amber coloured fortified wine, typical of the Aeolian Islands and produced from Salina vineyards. Try now Lipari Malvasia Wine.


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