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ITINERARIES BASE TROPEA
1 Week ca. 179 Nautical Miles
Tropea – Stromboli (32 m); Stromboli – Panarea (12 m); Panarea – Salina (10 m); Salina – Filicudi (14 m); Filicudi – Alicudi (11 m); Alicudi – Lipari (27 m); Lipari – Vulcano (5 m); Vulcano – Tropea ( 48 m)
2 Weeks ca. 218 Nautical Miles
Tropea – Stromboli (42 m); Stromboli – Panarea (12 m); Panarea – Salina (10 m); Salina – Filicudi (14 m); Filicudi – Alicudi (11 m); Alicudi – Lipari (27 m); Lipari – Vulcano (5 m); Vulcano – Portorosa (17 m); Portorosa – Messina (35 m); Messina – Tropea (35 m)
2 Weeks ca. 360 Nautical Miles
Tropea – Messina (35 m); Messina – Catania (48 m); Catania – Siracusa (29 m); Siracusa – Malta (60 m)
EOLIAN ISLANDS
Bays, coves, active volcanoes, isolated reefs; the Aeolian Islands have everything to make of a holiday an unforgettable event. To the north-east of Sicily there lies a corner of paradise where the mystery of nature is reflected seven times in the purest of waters. You feel as though you were admiring something belonging to the very beginning of creation: the seven islands of the Aeolian archipelago rise out of the sea like seven huge chunks of volcanic land anchored somewhere in the depths of the sea. The islands have been praised and immortalised by writers and artists and by great travellers of the past.
“Lipari“
Lipari is the largest and most heavily populated island of the archipelago. The town is spread out under the imposing Castle rock, the ancient Greek acropolis and along the bays of Marina Corta and Marina Lunga, to the north and south.
“Salina“
The volcanic island of Salina derives its name from a small coastal lake of about two hectares and only a few meters in depth, which was originally constructed by the Romans to harvest sea salt. Phrasing and geography aside, a visit to Salina will confirm previous travellers' assents: A gorgeous island filled with culinary luxuries like aromatic, highly alcoholic red and white wines and plump, delicious capers, a wide variety of flora and fauna and a people, warm and welcoming, like no other.
"Panarea“
Panarea (3.4 sq. km.) is one of the most scenic islands in the archipelago and the oldest geologically. The Greeks supposedly called it "Euonimo" because it appears on the left when departing from the port of Lipari. Though irregular and indefinable in form, rugged and uneven, it boasts stupendous beaches if enchanting beauty enhanced by a limpid blue sea. There are gaseous fumaroles and hot springs in various localities. One of these hot springs (50 deg. C.) is popular with the inhabitants for its curative effects.
“Stromboli”
“A black giant" stands out against the intense blue sea. For thousands of years the volcanic cone has been like a lighthouse for mariners. For those who approach the island, as soon as darkness begins, the flame of the volcano becomes visible at 15/20 minutes intervals.
"Vulcano"
Vulcano, the ancient Hierà (sacred), Thermessa or Terasia; is a most interesting island due to its volcanic and post-volcanic phenomena. The peculiar characteristic of Vulcano is its plateau, the vastest 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. The circular tour of Vulcano is a succession of fantastic visions famous for their variety and beauty of scenery.
“Filicudi and Alicudi”
Filicudi is known as such, due to the abundance of ferns in ancient times. It has an oval shape running down the peninsula made up of Capo Graziano, also formed from three extinct volcanoes. Two small villages house the few people living here during the year, Port Plain and Pecorini a Mare. Here people live on fishing, small pasture and tourism. It is suited to those who love nature and peace and quiet. The excursions, only by boat, to the Grotta del Bue Marino (Cave of the Sea Cow) and to the Scoglio della Canna are a must. Alicudi is the island more westerly and further out of the Aeolian Archipelago, similar to Filicudi in nature and conformation. Only recently do crafts berth at Port Palomba, where the small village rises and whose activity evolves around small fishing.
TRAPANI
Trapani, the ancient Drepanon, jets out into the Mediterranean Sea in the shape of a sickle. The lingy Tower, an imposing watchtower built in 1761, stands on its extreme tip and now houses the Museum of Prehistory. Geographically, Trapani is an unusual Sicilian city for its westward position, which affords spectacular views of some of the Mediterranean's most beautiful sunsets. The surrounding coastal plain is distinguished for its rich salt deposits, and the white mineral is ground by the windmills seen along the coast. All of which lends the environs an appearance that sometimes seems more Dutch than Sicilian.
EGADI ISLANDS
All around the Egadi Islands flow the blues waters of Sicily and the largest Italian Sea reserve.
"Favignana"
Favignana is the largest of the Egadi Islands. Many are the routes to walk along after the marks left by the rulers who dominated the island during the centuries. Many are the oasis of sun and sea where to find a new Mediterranean Sea, that every spring becomes scenery to the traditional Mattanza.
"Levanzo"
Small and wild is the island, a shelter from the world. Grotta del Genovese is an exciting tour, where prehistoric graffiti and paintings can be admired. The perfumes of the Mediterranean scrub and the crystal clear waters are unforgettable.
"Marettimo"
Marettimo is the island of dolomite relieves. The skilful and brave seamen during the summertime open their houses to tourists and lead them beneath the overhanging rocks and caves of the island.
USTICA
The island of Ustica emerges lonely out of the Tyrrhenian Sea, 36 miles north to the coast of Palermo, surrounded by particularly clear water and marvellous soundings overflowing with marine Flora and fauna in a protected ecosystem still practically intact. The coast of the island, whose origin is volcanic, is irregular and fretted, forming little inlets and delicious hidden spots. The lavish rock has been shaped through millenary torments into fantastic figures, nearly surrealistic sculptures, wonderful grottos in thousands of lights and the most beautiful reflecting of rays painted by phantasmagorical games of colours. The island's surface is about 8 km2 and the maximum high reaches 248 m above sea-level. During the whole year, its climate is surprisingly mild and pleasant thanks to its particular position in the streams of the Mediterranean basin and the frequent breezes from land and sea. Forbidden to the motorboats, Ustica is a real paradise for those who love sailing. It was one of the first sea reserves to be created in the Mediterranean Sea. Here the sea is populated by a lot of marvellous sea species and only sailing boats are admitted.
PANTELLERIA
Pantelleria is black fort its lava stone and obsidian and yet green for its rich vegetation. It is hard to think of such a surprising land offering sunburnt coast and an African climate an, not far off fresh woods, an alpine landscape, and mountain paths penetrating into depths of trees and plants.Pantelleria is also named the blue island, with a beautiful transparent sea, that catches all the nuances and gradations of blue: from the palest to the deepest.
LAMPEDUSA
This is the southernmost piece of Italy. Lampedusa is situated between Malta and Tunisia and belongs geologically and geographically to the African Continent. The most extensive of the Pelagian Islands, it is a 240 square-kilometre strip of land full of inlets, sky-blue grottoes and cliffs with an almost lunar appearance that have been sculpted by the perpetual lapping of the waves. Those who love the sun, clear blue water and wild natural landscapes will find Lampedusa the ideal island for an unforgettable holiday.
MALTA
The Maltese Islands are situated in the Mediterranean Sea, about 100 km from Sicily and 290 km from North Africa. They consist of Malta (390 sq km) Gozo (65 sq km) and Comino (2.5 sq km). They are one of the oldest civilisations in the Mediterranean dating back to circa 5000 years B.C.The Maltese Islands are a group of small, barren rocks, jutting out of the middle of the dark blue Mediterranean Sea. Their strategic situation in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea makes up for all the lack of resources that nature endowed the rest of the globe. Malta, the largest island, and her sister islands of Gozo, Comino, Filfla and other very small islands, are strategically placed in the narrow channel joining the eastern and the western basins of the Mediterranean.
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