Lipari

Discover Lipari

Lipari, the main island of the Aeolian Archipelago, often surprises the traveler, who does not expect to find, besides beaches and volcanic peaks, also archaeological treasures. So Lipari is a very popular destination.

The oldest archaeological findings are a proof. In fact Lipari has been inhabited since the Neolithic age by men, because the first settlers were attracted by the obsidian, the shiny black volcanic stone, which was used for weapons and cutting tools, before the use of metals.

Guided tour

After landing on the island, either in Marina Lunga if you travel by hydrofoil or ferry, or in the lovely Marina Corta if you travel by excursion boats, it is easy to reach the fortress called the Castle.

After a raid of the pirate Hayreddin Barbarossa, the Spanish people built the defensive walls in the sixteenth century. But these impressive walls incorporate a Greek tower and portions of the Norman fortifications.

The citadel encloses the major monuments of the town:

archaeological excavations, which let us know the various settlements on Lipari up to Roman times;
five churches, among them there is the Cathedral dedicated to St. Bartholomew, patron saint of the archipelago. It was built by the Normans and renovated several times;
a charming cloister;
a superb Archaeological Museum that illustrates the successive civilizations in the Aeolian archipelago.

Do not miss a tour of the island to discover its many faces.

Proceeding clockwise stop at the Belvedere of Quattrocchi for a breathtaking view over the jagged coastline with the famous Faraglioni. This place was once the throne and scepter of Aeolus. But even in the background you enjoy a view of the island of Vulcano.

Continuing on, you will go through the villages of Piano Conte and Quattropani, surrounded by the typical Aeolian vegetation, above all the capers.

Then a stop at the Belvedere of the Five Islands, so called because you can see Alicudi, Filicudi, Salina, Panarea and Stromboli.

Afterwards you will reach the seashore of Acquacalda and the foothills of the pumice quarries, whose exploitation consisted of the major economic income of the island for a long time.

Finally spectacular views on the white slopes of the mountains and the turquoise sea below will accompany you almost to Canneto. That’s our last stop of the tour with extended and very popular beaches in summer.