Ferry from Alicudi to Messina

Alicudi Guide

Forming one of the 8 islands that make up the Aeolian archipelago, the island of Alicudi is the westernmost Aeolian islands, which is a volcanic chain of islands to the north of Sicily. There are around 120 inhabitants on the island which is around 40 km to the west of Lipari, with a land mass of around 5 sq. km. Most of the island's inhabitants live off fishing, with some involved in the small amount of agriculture that takes place on the island. Visitors should note that there are not many facilities on the island which has one restaurant serving whatever fish has been caught or what supplies the ferry brings.

The island is accessible by conventional ferry or hydrofoil from Palermo, Messina, Reggio Calabria and Napoli. The primary port of departure for the Aeolian Islands, and hence also for Alicudi, is the town of Milazzo in Sicily. Ferry services generally operate all year round but are weather dependent. Alicudi is the farthest Aeolian Island from Milazzo and therefore the crossing takes around 3 hours by hydrofoil, with stops at the islands of Vulcano, Lipari, Salina and Filicudi.

Messina Guide

Messina is an Italian city and is sometimes referred to as 'the door of Sicily' and lies on the Strait of Messina in the north east of Sicily. The city's port has played an important role in the city's growth and fortunes and supports tourism for the city and surrounding area and is also home to commercial and military shipyards. Since 1548, Messina has been a Roman Catholic Archdiocese and Archimandrite and is also home to the University of Messina which was founded in 1548 by Ignatius of Loyola. A popular tourist attraction in the city is the 12th century cathedral which guards the remains of King Conrad who was ruler of Germany and Sicily during the 13th century. Following a huge earthquake in 1908 the cathedral had to be almost completely rebuilt between 1919-1920 and then again in 1943 following a fire that was caused by Allied bombing during the Second World War.

Ferry services from Messina operate to one of two ports in Calabria (Villa San Giovanni and Reggio Calabria) or on a longer ferry ride to Salerno, just south of Naples.