Alicudi

Alicudi, where time has stood still

Living for even a few days in Alicudi is an experience that remains forever etched in your memory. Time seems to have stopped here. With its unique atmosphere, the island seems to tell us its history of looting and invasions, a story that has seen the succession of different peoples and ended in peace and beauty. In the post-war era Alicudi was inhabited by around 600 people.

Alicudi
Aerial photo of the islet of Alicudi. It is not intense green in color, due to the barren vegetation. The island is triangular in shape, on the left at the bottom you can see the houses, white in color, which develop linearly uphill up to the middle of the side of the islet.

Most emigrated to Australia and South America. Currently only 100 residents are living on the island, and not many more during the summer months.
Alicudi, the island of Erica (Ereikousa was its ancient name) is a rugged, very steep isle, where there is a single lane with lava stone steps that connects all the houses, land to be cultivated and any other places of interest. This route starts from sea level and goes up to the top of Monte Filo dell’Arpa at around 675 metres.
ericaGiven the absence of drivable roads, you can only travel on foot or by mule
The only town is also called Alicudi and is divided into five small hamlets. The port area is the centre of the island: the coastal stretch of the port, a small pier houses a pebble beach typical of the Aeolian environment. The traditional houses have flat roofs for rainwater collection, which flows into large cisterns next to and below the building.
The rooms are adjoining, connected by the large terrace, where there are brickwork seats, the bisuoli, and typical truncated cone columns, the pulere, on which rest the wooden beams of the pergolas, supporting vines that offer shade. Next to the houses there are still numerous mannare, buildings made of dry natural stone, with a circular plan, which can be accessed from low entrances. They have no windows and a beaten earth floor, and were once used to shelter sheep.
The island of Alicudi is a precious and unique destination, either visited in a single day, given its small size, or enjoyed for longer periods, while immersed in its absolute tranquillity. Walking down its steep steps it is possible to admire the blue of its waters that blend into the sky.

The pure white of the pumice quarries

The senses tell Alicudi

The hidden part of the Aeolian Islands

The prehistoric village of Cala Junco

Salina, the green island with twin mountains

The Village of Capo Graziano

Lipari, where history intertwines with volcanoes to create archaeology

Wine, oil and capers, masterpieces of nature and launching pad of the Aeolian economy

The senses tell the Lipari Castle

The senses tell The Gran Cratere of the Fossa

The summit craters

The fumaroles of the port of Vulcano

The Cathedral of Lipari and the Norman Cloister of the Benedictine Monastery

The senses tell the port of Vulcano

Lipari Castle, “fused” with lava

Pollara, between poetry and beauty

The Gran Cratere of the Fossa

Where do Vulcano’s gases come from?

The ancient production of salt

The polis of the living and the necropolis of the dead

The Sciara del Fuoco

The Aeolian Islands, where volcanoes were first studied

Seven islands with different faces

The Stacks of Panarea

The senses tell The prehistoric village of Cala Junco

Stromboli, the volcano that breathes

The malleability of Vulcano’s mud

The senses tell The Stacks of Panarea

The senses tell The summit craters

Lipari at the centre of Mediterranean history

Filicudi, a submerged paradise

At the heart of trade in history

Myths and legends about volcanoes

Alicudi, where time has stood still

Vulcano, the most famous volcano in the world

Volcanoes

The salt lake of Lingua

Filicudi: small island, big history

Seven islands, dozens of volcanoes

Panarea, the island of Stacks