Exploring the Magnificent Seven
There are times you simply don’t have time for a full-blown holiday. Yet you want to escape from reality for awhile, if only a few days. Where can you go? Someplace where the islands are exotic, yet compact enough to be able to enjoy several different venues without having to go hours between anchorages. There are several answers to this dilemma, but one of the answers is the Aeolian Islands off the northern coast of Sicily. Yes, you could spend a week languishing here, but three or four days will also work well!

Historical, yes. The Greeks colonized the islands around 580 BC and named them after the mythical figure Aeolus. According to Homer, Aeolus kept the winds bottled up in a cove. When Odysseus came by on his trip home, he was given a favorable wind, but he accidentally released it from its bag and was blown off course. So the next time you long to call someone a “windbag”, think of poor Odysseus! Yes, it is historical here, especially on the main island of Lipari, but the real reason to visit is to swim and dive in the crystalline seas.

Lipari is the largest island and offers the widest selection of restaurants, shops, and things to do. From a historical point of view, Lipari is the most interesting of the islands. The main town (also called Lipari) is a charming village that boasts a largely reconstructed Norman-era church and a fine archeological museum nearby.

If you can only convince your compatriots to visit one of these, choose the museum, as it is more interesting and has the added perk in that the explanations are written in English! The oldest part of the castle was built in Greek times, but the thirteenth-century walls that dominate the structure are, of course, much more evident. Following the assault of the Turks, the larger walls were built, and these constitute the fortress’s present appearance. There are remains of several towers and other medieval structures on Lipari, along with additional Greek and Roman ruins. Not into history and rather go for a hike? The trek to the top of Mount Sant’Angelo will leave you breathless. From the exertion, yes, but also from the incredible view. Well worth the effort!

The Aeolians Islands provide an outstanding record of volcanic island-building and destruction and ongoing volcanic phenomena. Inasmuch that the islands were formed by volcanic activity, each island’s beaches are of unique character, depending on how old the island is. The “younger” the island, the blacker the sand, due to the obsidian in the lava. Lipari boasts lidos covered with the finest white sand, which is the end product of black lava.

At one time, Lipari was the talcum capital of the world, as there were several mines on Lipari. The very finest powder is unusable even for talcum powder, and the owners of the mines disposed of this unwanted white powder by dumping truckloads of it down the hillsides every evening. So much of it ended up in the ocean that Lipari’s waters are still the palest blue, even though the dumping ended decades ago.

Vulcano, a “younger” extinct volcano, is located very close to Lipari, separated only by a wide strait. It is studded with fantastic formations, both above ground and underwater. Snorkeling will allow you to observe these incredible creations, but for the full effect, scuba diving is the preferred form of exploration. The nooks and crannies are teaming with rainbow color fish and anemones.

Stromboli is the northernmost island of the archipelago, and the most spectacular for its continuously active volcano. The volcano’s three mouths belch white hot rocks and steamy lapillus, which lights up the night and noisily falls down into the sea. Yes, there are actually people who live here in two miniscule towns on opposite sides of the volcano! Not a place to stay for the night, as there are no harbors or marinas and the seas can get rough, but an extraordinary place for the scuba divers, though most of the dives are too deep for a beginner.

Salina is known as the Garden Island. Capers and Malvasia grapes grown in abundance here. The Malvaisa grapes are used for the heady malvasia which will give you a fine headache if you partake of it in abundance. Better to stick with the capers. If you don’t like capers, try the local capers packed in salt. You might discover that it’s the vinegar they are usually packed in that you don’t like,
not the capers. Either way, the capers won’t give you the after effects that the malvasia will!

Panarea is tiny, compared to the other islands, but is the most picturesque with its stark white houses and brilliant yellow ginestra bushes. Considered the “jet-set” island, there are three small but famous hotels and the summer homes of many wealthy Italians. So if you want to sit at a sidewalk café and watch for glimpses of the “rich and famous”, this is the island to hang out on.

Filicudi takes its name from the rich fern vegetation growing there, and has an appropriately named peak called Fern Mountain. Like Salina, the hillsides are terraced and capers is the industrial mainstay, along with fishing. The coast features a high, walled profile, interspersed with caves. Notable among them and commanding a fist is the one named the Sea Bull Cave. Filicudi is not an island you will want to visit if you want to sunbathe on a beach, but the underwater vistas will entrance the divers. The most popular is named “Grotto of the Sea Lion”. Nearby Alicudi is similar in geographical features, both on land and under the water, it is simply smaller.

Alicudi is also more isolated, as it is only suitable for a day anchorage and is located enough of a distance away that most people will not want to spend the time traveling to and from it, only to spend an hour or so for a dive. Such are the Aeolian Islands, the so-called Magnificent Seven. Enough variety to keep you entertained, but close enough together, and to Sicily to facilitate a quick holiday. And sometimes, that is all you need… a quick trip to somewhere wonderful where you can renew your spirit with beautiful vistas. The Aeolian Islands, waiting for you to discover them.

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