The Eolian Islands should really not be described in uniformity as every one of the eight islands; Alicudi, Filicudi, Salina, Lipari, Vulcano, Panarea, Basiluzzo, and Stromboli, have their own characteristics that distinguish them from the others. They do however have common characteristics. The eight islands bathe in the same crystal clear water, with an underwater world of sea-life, colours, and archaeological treasures constituting an Eldorado for divers and swimmers alike. Born from volcanic eruptions, the islands' stone formations, beaches, and caves making the transgression from land to sea are simply spectacular. These natural phenomenon make amazing viewing both from land and sea. There is no point denying that the full splendour of the islands is best experienced by boat. Although the splendour of the Eolian Islands are most immediately evident in the sea, the land itself holds many a treasure.

To summarise all the islands are sublime in their own way. Each offers different things or the same things in different ways. Filicudi is so unspoilt and natural as well as Stromboli. Also as the islands get more built-up the people are not as friendly. The fauna on Salina is excellent. Driving around on a scooter and seeing all the beautiful plants and trees and the way they grow in the mountains is beautiful. Scooter is a great way to explore the islands and cars are limited. Reasonable price per day for an OK 50cc scooter is 10 Euro. Haggle if you don't get this. You would need a special edition Piaggio Eolie model to get around the islands as the roads are about 1.5 metres (max) wide and a normal car just does not fit. You can even take the scooters on the boats with you, if you wanted to bring your own. Except for on Lipari shopping is non-existent. You can buy some foods and cook, but no clothes, shoes, snorkel gear, games, etc. So you can spend all your money on the glorious food.

Alicudi
Alicudi is the island of heather due to the pink blanket that covers its lavic surface in spring- time. This island (5.2 km2) once called "Ericusa" is an extinct volcano that rises out of the sea to reach the summit of Monte Filo dell'Arpa (657 m; also known as Timpone della Montagnola). This is the smallest and western-most of the inhabited Aeolian islands and lies about 67 miles from Milazzo. It is not part of the mass tourism circuit and the only landing area is near the Scoglio della Palomba. Tourists accommodation is only possible in boarding-houses and private homes. Near the village there is a rise called "Timpone delle femmine'. Women used to be hidden in this almost impenetrable location to prevent them from being kidnapped by the pirates during their raids. The boat tour along the 4 kilometres of the island's coast slowly exposes enchanting spots and peculiar red and black rocks separating the little beaches from each other. Alicudi is a wonderful location for your sailing holiday in Italy.The completely uninhabited western side of the island shows particularly suggestive walls falling into the water. The stair-shaped eastern side is exactly the opposite. You can see the church of San Bartolomeo rising above the houses of Alicudi and offering a wide panorama.
► Further info for this destination

Filicudi
Once it was called 'Phoenicusa': "rich in ferns", and a major area of the island is still covered with this type of vegetation. This island, measuring just under 10 km2, lies 9 miles from Alicudi and 19 miles from Lipari. It is the most ragged of this group of islands and geologists believe that its conformation is the product of six eruptive mouths, three of which represent today's peaks of the island: Fossa delle Felci (774 m) which is the oldest; Montagnola (333 m) which is probably the most recent; and Torrione (280 m). The coasts of Filicudi present uncommon beauty. Sloping formations of terraces covered by woods of broom and falling towards the sea, follow narrow valleys, to abrupt rocks and to coasts now severe, now pleasant. Here and there one admires deep grottos like that of the Maccatore, of S. Bartolomeo, of the Perciato (perforated) and of the Bue Marino (seal). The last is the most well known and is a must to be seen for your sailing vacation on the Italian sea. It has an entrance with pointed arch with a characteristic entrance hall and with a most ample cavity. The plays of light and shadow produce therein phenomena of refraction particularly suggestive.
► Further info for this destination

Lipari
Lipari’s History (Roman Lipara, ancient Greek Meligunis) is the biggest of the Aeolian Islands, in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the north coast of Sicily, and also the island's main town. It has approximately 11,000 inhabitants and during the tourist season (May-September) its population reaches up to 200,000. The island due to its mild climate and serene sky in Winter presents itself as an ideal resort and in Summer as a sought-after seaside resort and also for pleasure boating. This island is a centre for unforgettable excursions owing to its fascinating countryside. Interesting is the excursion to Quattrocchi where one admires, amongst a variety of colours, as in a dream, picturesque inlets with high slender rocks which reflect in the sea. In the background, as though fading away, rises from the sea the smoking Vulcano, which encloses the enchanting spectacle. Of great tourist interest is the trip by boat around Lipari. There follow, one after the other, pictorial episodes which form a composition of great beauty and variety: deep grottos, delightful beaches, high shores, ample bays, perforated rocks, small inlets and steep, wild cliffs.
► Further info for this destination

Panarea
Panarea, the antique Eunonimo, is a most scenographic island; one of the most enchanting of the Archipelago. The island, the small islands (Basiluzzo, Dattilo, Lisca Bianca) and the islets (Battaro, Lisca Nera, Panarelli and Le Formiche) are to be considered parts of the same volcanic system; they represent the remains of eruptive centres implanted in the same morphological unit constituted by a volcanic underwater upland. The formation of the island, the most ancient of the Aeolian Archipelago is attributed to the Sicilian by Keller and to the Milazzese by Pichler. A stratum volcano, the eastern part of which is left, is implanted on the part above the waters, while secondary eruptive centres in the form of cupolas of stagnation have subsequently formed along the sides. The highest peak of Panarea is called Pizzo del Corvo (420 m), which descends to the East with terraces cultivated with corn and surrounded by gigantic olive trees.
► Further info for this destination

Salina
This centrally located isle, lying two miles from Lipari, is the only Aeolian island (out of seven) covered with blooming vegetation suitable for agriculture thanks to its many water sources. More than 400 different types of plants grow here. It is also the island with the highest peaks such as the three volcanoes that originated it: Monte Fossa delle Felci (962 m), which is partially covered by one of the most beautiful strawberry tree woods of the entire Mediterranean; Monte dei Porri (860 m); and Monte Rivi (850 m). A circular trip around the island offers indelible sights owing to its high, sombre coasts, its characteristic immersed terraces, pleasant small beaches and inhabited centres, the typical small white houses, nestled along the sea and half way up the coast. In addition, Salina, owing to its central position, constitutes, during the Summer season, a centre for excursions to the other Aeolian islands.
► Further info for this destination

Stromboli
From the abysses of the Tyrrhenian Sea rises, in a symphony of colour, the mass of Stromboli with bold slopes which stand out vigorously against a sapphire sky. On the Eastern slopes, covered by a mantle of green, stand out, neatly and attractively, typical small white houses which, seen from above, produce the sensation of a swarm of snow-white butterflies perched on a vast emerald lawn. Spread capriciously on the crags or clinging to the walls, the caper bushes make a beautiful sight with their shape of strange verdant umbrellas which, during the Summer season, are decorated by gaudy white flowers. In the Spring the thick olive trees and boundless vines, in place intersected by rows of wisteria, briars and broom, engulfed in a sea of high grass, mixed with a thousand wild flowers, offer an enchanting polychrome scene amongst inebriating effluvia. Evening boat trip is the best way to enjoy an overall picture of the island and experience the spectacular view : startling explosions shoot matter high into the air, tingeing the night’s blackness with red, a must to be seen for your sailing vacation on the Italian sea
► Further info for this destination

Vulcano
Vulcano, the ancient Hierà (sacred), Thermessa or Terasia; is a most interesting island due to its volcanic and post-volcanic phenomena. The circular tour of Vulcano is a succession of fantastic visions famous for their variety and beauty of scenery : the peculiar characteristic of Vulcano is its plateau, the most vast of the Aeolian islands, formed by lava, banks of tuff and quaternary deposits and furrowed by deep valleys. It is surrounded by undulating and bare hills, which fall towards the sea. On the high slopes of the island the panorama is picturesque and wild: dykes alternate with extensive areas of tuff and sand. Mud is one of Vulcano’s attractions. Immediately to the north of Porto di Levante, the sea water is warmed by smaller fumaroles (Acque Calde) that are located along the coast at a depth of up to a few metres. In the immediate hinterland area, there are the famous thermal springs, where you can bathe in a mixture of sea water and mud (Pozza dei Fanghi) at any time of year and any time of day or night. Mud treatment is recommended for people with rheumatic ailments and dermatological conditions (greasy skin, acne, psoriasis)
► Further info for this destination