It took me 20 minutes to try to find the words to describe what this trip was for me. I had in mind only onejumble of images, scents and smells that floated in my mind, just as I felt aboard the rafts and hydrofoils that took me from one part of that patch of the Mediterranean to the other.
It may have been the beginner's luck, but my first blog tour was at Aeolian: a journey to discover the Seven Sisters.
Islands of volcanic origin, the Aeolian Islands fascinate not only for the breathtaking views and the crystal clear sea, but above all for the uncontaminated condition that still governs the daily rhythms: seven sisters in antithesis with themselves and with the others, able to give visitor a jolt of contrasting and lively emotions.
Le Lipari Islands, due to their geographical location, they draw an imaginary y: Salina has to his left Alicudi and Filicudi and to his right Stromboli and Panarea; behind it Vulcano and Lipari. Despite the geographical proximity, Salina is the only island to belong to the Municipality of Messina, unlike the others which, however, refer to Lipari.
The name Eolie recalls the God Aeolus: in fact, according to Greek mythology, Aeolus resided on the island of Lipari and from there governs the winds. And it is Lipari itself that is the largest island of the archipelago: it extends for about 37 km², in which about 12000 inhabitants live. An island with a dualistic soul: on the one hand the historical remains enclosed in the Castle and the Archaeological Museum, on the other the modan life that lives on the island throughout the summer season; the white of the pumice which contrasts with the black of the obsidian; the uncontaminated and wild landscapes that oppose the industrial installations, now in disuse, since 2007. The production of pumice has been blocked, in fact, following the recognition as a "World Heritage Site" by Unesco on the entire archipelago.
The smallest of the sisters, however, is Panarea: with only 4 km², it is the queen of the Aeolian summer nightlife. Originally it was among the largest, if not the largest island of the entire archipelago: a record lost following a volcanic explosion that caused much of Panarea to sink and the islets of Basiluzzo, Dattilo and Lisca bianca.
Close to Panarea is Stromboli, known mainly for its still active Volcano: in 2002, following a strong eruption, most of the population was forced to leave the island. Despite the commitment of the Civil Protection, some towns did not want to leave their homes, claiming that it is Iddu, the volcano, a decide their life. But Stromboli is not only known for its volcanic activity, but also for the port of Ginostra, the smallest port in the world: a strip of land accessible only by sea, inhabited by 40 people, reached by electricity only since 2004.
Diripettaie of Stromboli and Panarea are Alicudi and Filicudi, tiny islands, (5,2 km² the first and 9,7 km² the second) rise again only in the summer. With just under 200 inhabited each, Alcudi and Filicudi are only accessible on foot or with donkeys; certainly the most pristine, undisputed destination for tourists in search of tranquility.
Salina safely earns the title of Ionly Green: the densest of crops, it is certainly the undisputed cradle of Malvasia and Caper. Its grace and elegance were the setting for Massimo Troisi's latest work: some scenes from the film Il Postino were shot on the beach of Pollara.
Finally, Vulcano, the closest island to Milazzo, the town from where the connections to and from Sicily. This too with an ambivalent soul: on one side the still active Volcano and the mud pools, on the other luxury hotels; marine caves to discover with fins and mask, but also the summit of the volcano to climb.
Visiting the Aeolian Islands is a journey to discover our origins, to discover nature and to discover the almost tribal rhythms that these people still have the good fortune to preserve.
