Grande Albergo Maugeri. Aeolian Islands

The Aeolian Islands, or Lipari Islands, are a volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea in the north of Sicily, belonging to the province of Messina. They can be reached by ferry boat or hydrofoil from Messina or Milazzo. The archipelago is made up of seven islands: Alicudi, Filicudi, Lipari, Panarea, Salina, Stromboli and Vulcano, many little islands, cliffs and rocks.

Vulcano is a small volcanic island and the southernmost of the Aeolian Islands. It's one of the most interesting islands according to its landscape and volcanic phenomena. Sea water boils because of the submarine smoke, creating little fountains coming out of the sea. These waters and mud baths made this island very famous. Visit the Black Beaches, Sulphur Mud Baths, Monsters Valley, and Thermal Waters and go on an excursion to the Gran Cratere, from the top of which you admire a wonderful view. Taste sea food specialities and the famous aeolian salad.

Stromboli is one of the most beautiful and picturesque islands of the archipelago. The island is a volcano, constantly active with major eruptions, often visible from many points of the island and from the surrounding sea, giving rise to the island's nickname "Lighthouse of the Mediterranean". Visit Ginostra, where you can find remains dated back to the 17th century AD , and the "Sciara del Fuoco" (street of Lava), reachable only by boat to admire the eruption. During the night you can see smoke, ashes and rivers of fire going down to the sea. Taste Strombolian spaghetti, cooked with capers that the island produces, and Malvasia, a special sweet wine.

Salina is the second biggest island and looks entirely green. It has clean and full of fish sea, green hills and big vine- and oliveyards. Visit the famous Pollara Crater, where "Il Postino" , the famous film, took place.

Filicudi and its Sea Ox Cave, so called because of ox noise the water produces inside it, La Canna Cliff and Capo Graziano prehistorical remains.

Alicudi is the westernmost of the Aeolian Islands. Visit the "Timpone delle femmine", a kind of natural fortress where the women were hidden when invasions took place; the "Rock of Galera" and its very clean waters and vegetation; "Thread of Harp" from the top of which you admire a wonderful view. Taste linguine (a kind of spaghetti) with almonds.

Lipari is the largest of the archipelago. Its city center is dominated by the Castle, a wide natural fortress on a pluff. The old acropolis includes the 15th century walls, a 3rd century AD Greek tower and the Norman Cathedral that houses Caravaggio Canvas, "Transito della Vergine". Visit the Archeological Museum too where you can find neolithic material. Go on excursions by boat to the white beaches, pumis pits, Pietra Lunga cliffs, Pietra Menalda, Papa Giovanni Rock and the Angels Cave.

Panarea, the smallest island, has hot waters and sulphur mud Baths. You can go around the island through a path having a close contact with nature and seeing the royal Mediterranean seagull.