Honeymoon Sicily | Aeolian Islands | Hotels
Mountains of Fire, Stunning natural beauty, unique works of art, unforgettable cuisine
The seven Aeolian Islands are situated off the north-eastern coast of Sicily. They vary in character
from being rough and untamed like the islands of Filicudi and Alicudi to the calm spectacular islands
of Lipari and Panarea. The introverted and stunning island of Salina is a must see before moving on
to the active volcanic islands of Stromboli and Volcano.
The Greek mythology assigns the islands to Aeolus, and suggests that Odysseus temporarily sheltered
there during his travels. There he would meet Cyclops. The history itself of these islands is lost
in the mist of time, when tectonic plates moved to create a great gorge in the Tyrrhenian Sea thereby
releasing a mass of molten magma that hardened into a great volcanic outcrop. According to most
recent theories, this happened during the Pleistocene era, just under a million years ago
The earliest islands to be formed were Panarea, Filicudi and Alicudi. The youngest are those
which continue to be active today, Vulcano and Stromboli. Eruptions have continued over the millennia
resulting in a variety of phenomena. One phenomenon are streams of black obsidian, a glassy and friable
material with edges so sharp it was used by ancient people to make razor-like cutting tools.
The scanty population of the islands, that in certain periods is almost isolated from the rest of the world,
mostly subsists on fishing, farming (especially vines and harvesting of capers), quarrying pumice (as on Lipari,
although this is a dying trade), and most particularly, albeit for a short season, on tourism.
The sea is clear and warm, its colour ranging from cobalt blue to crystal near the shore; the rocky shoreline
nurtures a rich variety of aquatic flora and fauna: sea anemones, sponges, shell-fish, seaweed, crustaceans
and molluscs as well as countless species of fish, making it a paradise for bathers, snorkelers, divers and
spear-gun-fishing enthusiasts alike.
Honeymoon Collection | 2012 Deals