Ferry from Vulcano to Lipari

Vulcano Guide

The small Italian volcanic island of Vulcano lies in the Tyrrhenian Sea and is around 25 km to the north of Sicily, and is the most southerly of the eight islands that make up the Aeolian Islands. The island is only around 21 sq. km and its highest point is just under 500 m above sea level. There are a number of volcanos on the island, and includes one of four active, non-submarine, volcanoes in Italy. The most recent volcanic activity is the Gran Cratere at the top of the Fossa cone, the cone having grown in the Lentia Caldera in the middle of the island, and has had at least 9 major eruptions in the last 6,000 years. However, the island's volcanoes have been quiet since around 1890 when Fossa erupted and deposited around 5 meters of pyroclastic material on the summit. The island is also famous for its hot springs which are located a short walk from the harbour. For the brave, visitors are able to walk to the crater of a volcano where you can observe smoke coming out of the ground!

Hydrofoil and ferry services connect Vulcano to the other Aeolian Islands and to Sicily and the mainland. Access from Milazzo in Sicily is convenient, as Vulcano is the boat's first stop from there as they continue to the other islands.

Lipari Guide

Lipari is an Italian island and the largest of the Aeolian Islands, which is a volcanic archipelago located off the coast of Sicily. The island's largest town is also called Lipari, which is also the largest town in the archipelago, and is full of life with its harbour, historic castle-citadel and charming streets just waiting to be explored. Just like the other islands in the archipelago, Lipari has volcanic origins although the last eruption that occurred on the island was around 1,400 years ago, although there are some thermal springs and fumaroles on the island. Because of the fast ferry connections to and from Sicily and to the other Aeolian Islands, it is a great base from which to explore the other islands in the archipelago.

Lipari town is a great place to wander around and has some fine town houses to see that sit alongside more humble houses that tend to have balconies with full of flowers, washing and onions and peppers! There are Greek tombs located in parkland but the most impressive site in the town is the castle which is located on a headland and is the heart of the town that was once located on the site.