trips

Northern Sicily, Aeolian & Ustica Islands

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Aeolian archipelago

The Aeolian or Liparian archipelago was formed millions of years ago out of a fracture of the continental shell. All 7 islands, named le sette sorelle del fuoco (the seven sisters out of the fire) are of clear volcanic origins. The name Aeolian is derived from the Greek god Eolus, the god of the winds housing there, as described in the Odyssey by Homer. Stromboli is an always active volcano with regular explosive eruptions and in Vulcano the last eruption was in 1888.
The human history of the Aeolian islands begins in the stone age with the exploitation of some volcanic stones like obsidian for the manufacture of knifes and arrows or spear tips. For a fantastic collection of the historic vestiges found on the Aeolian islands, visit the museum at Lipari.
The Aeolian islands offers only limited protection for boats at heavy weather conditions. In the summer months, a NW wind of 2 to 4 Beaufort's is dominating.
Some more information at: http://www.eolieonline.it or http://www.portaledelleeolie.it/

Stromboli Island

Map	Stromboli Island and village	Stromboli Island from the NE	anchoring on the South of the village	anchoring on the South of the village	from the anchoring site looking South
the village from the East	Village from the North	typical houses at Stromboli	typical lane	the sciara del fuoco	the sciara del fuoco
view of the village while climbing to the volcano	the smoking craters	a typical explosive eruption	Stromboli SW side	The small village Ginostra SW Stromboli Island
The Stromboli island is situated at the NE corner of the Aeolian archipelago. The name of Stromboli seems to be derived from the Greek word Stronglide standing for whipping-top. Stromboli is also named the lighthouse of the Mediterranean sea because of the regular and spectacular lava projections. This type of volcanic activity is WW named the strombolian type. The Stromboli volcano has 3 main craters situated next to each other. The explosions are especially spectacular in the night and the climbing to the top of the volcano (about 900 m) is an unforgettable experience. At the NW side of Stromboli there is the sciara del fuoco (fire slide), where the erupted lava stones rolls down to the sea. Stromboli has two agglomerations. One on the NE corner (lodgings Scari, S. Vincenzo, Ficogrande and Piscità) and Ginostra at the West side. There is no harbor at Stromboli. The seas around the island are deep and steep. The best anchoring sites in good weather conditions are around the NE corner. In the summer months where a NW wind is prevailing, the best anchoring site is at the S of the peer at the end of the main village next to the black rocky beach. Be prepared to anchor over 30 m deep water. More information about the volcanic activity of Stromboli at: http://www.vulkane.ch/Stromboli.html

Panarea Island

Map	Cala Zimmari SW Panarea	Columbia, a 12 of the America's Cup in Cala Zimmari Panarea	Cala Junco SW Panarea	vestiges of a stone age settlement	Punta Milazzese SW Panarea
The village E Panarea Island	The village E Panarea Island	Panarea from the SW, the small islands and Stromboli far in the background	view of Panarea island from the SW
Panarea is the sole Island of the archipelago who does not have a volcano on it. Panarea and the rocky small islands on the East are the residues of an old exploded volcano. Panarea is a lovely Island and the most exclusive of the aeolian archipelago. There is no harbor, only a peer for the ferryboats at the village on the East side. Good anchoring sites are Cala Zimmari on the SW side with good protection against winds from W to N. Sandy ground 4 to 10 meters. Cala Junco a small bay adjacent to Cala Zimmari, protected against winds from N to E. Rocky ground 4 to 10 meters. The anchoring ground before the village is not protected and not recommended. To use only for a short time for shopping.

Lipari Island

Map	The city of Lipari E Lipari island	Some beautiful Greek vases at the museum	The pumice mines NE Lipari Island	The faraglioni S Lipari Island	The faraglioni S Lipari Island
Lipari E and Vulcano island in the background	Lipari N and Salina island in the background	the city of Lipari	The bay next to the city E Lipari Island
The Lipari Island was formed by two volcano's. Lipari is the main island of the archipelago and has a long history beginning with the prehistoric aeolian culture, through Greek, Roman and middle age settlements. A visit to the museum at the main city is a must. At the main harbor, next to the city in the South of the bay, there can be fastened to the peer (use your own anchor and beware of the swell caused by the ferry's). The harbor on the North of the bay is better protected, but hopeless crowded. The bay offers also good, but deep! anchoring grounds. Around the island are a lot of other beautiful anchoring grounds but only at almost calm weather.

Vulcano Island

Map	View from the volcano to the North	The hot sources at the beach next to the Vulcano harbor	The hot sources at the beach next to the Vulcano harbor	Hot mud next to the Vulcano harbor	Fumarole with sulphur at the crater edge
View of the crater	Valle dei mostri	sundown at Vulcano Porto di Ponente	Vulcano SE side	Vulcano SW side	view of the volcano
The last eruptions at the main volcano "Cratere della Fossa" occurred between 1888-1890. The volcano is considered to be still active and dangerous. The emitted gases at the volcano and next to the harbor contains hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide which are poisonous and corrosive. Good anchoring sites, depending from the wind direction, are in the NW at Porto di Ponente over shallow sandy ground in front of the black beach, in the NE at Porto di Levante where the fumaroles are located, over a steep sloping ground or at other sites, at calm weather conditions over normally deep ground of 30-50 meters. The harbor is located at the NE side. There is a short peer for yachts, crowded and not recommended because of the swell caused by ferry's.

Salina Island

Map	Salina N side	Salina N side	the village of Malfa N Salina	Salina N side	Punta Perciato NW Salina
Punta Parciato NW Salina	below Pollara W Salina	below Pollara W Salina	below Pollara W Salina	below Pollara W Salina
The Greeks named the Salina island Didyme (the twins) because it is formed by twin volcanos. Salina is the greenest of the aeolian archipelago and well known for the capers. On Salina, there are 3 distinct, main villages, S. Marina on the East, Malfa on the North and Leni on the South West. Recently a small harbor, also suitable for yachts, was built at S. Marina. Anchoring sites are around Punta Lingua in the South East or at the North West, below the small village of Pollara.

Filicudi Island

Map	View of Filicudi from the W with the canna	sundown at Filicudi	next to the grotto SW Flicudi island	Inside the grotto SW Filicudi Island	The village Pecorini a mare S Filicudi Island
Pecorini a mare	Pecorini a mare	anchoring site SE Filicudi Island	from the anchoring site looking W	from the Canna looking NE	NW of Filicudi Alicudi far in the background
Filicudi porto	Filicudi porto	Filicudi porto
A lovely Island. Not crowded. Very small, calm villages. At Capo Graziano, the promontory at the SE of Filicudi Island, are located the rests of huts of a prehistoric culture. Just at the east of Capo Graziano, at a depth of 40 to 90 meters, are 3 Roman and Greek ships wrecks with an almost intact content. Anchoring and diving is prohibited and the site is guarded. Beautiful and impressive is the NW side with the "Canna". At Filicudi there are no harbors and no protected anchoring sites. However, at calm weather conditions the best anchoring sites are in the NW and SE over rocky and grass ground at depths of 10-20 meters.

Alicudi Island

Map

the village at Alicudi

Alicudi is the most western island of the archipelago formed by one volcano. The island is isolated an impervious. No harbor, no roads, no bays, no beaches. The sole methods to move on the island are your feet or ....mules. Simply beautiful and stress healing!
No recommended anchoring sites.

Ustica Island (not part of the Aeolian archipelago)

Map	Map of the zones under natural protection	pictures coming soon
The Island of Ustica is of volcanic origins and is habited since the stone age. The seas around the island are the first protected marine park in Italy and are subdivided in 3 zones. In the most restrictive zone A, limited by 5 yellow buoys, there is no access for every type of boat, no fishing, no diving. In the zone B, up to 3 nautical miles from the coast, is the navigation, sport fishing and diving allowed. The removing of any living form and of rocks is not allowed. The zone C is almost free, the commercial fishing is allowed only for local fishermen with special authorization.

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