LIPARI

It is the largest of the Aeolian archipelago's island having a 37,6 km square area, and it is 24 nautical miles far from the Sicilian coast. Its inhabitants, called Liparesi or Liparoti, are approximately 9000 in number and are located in the town of Lipari as well as in the small villages of : Canneto, Acquacalda, Quattropani e Pianoconte. With the exception of Salina, all the other islands depend on Lipari adminsitratively. Like all the Aeolian archipelago, Lipari has volcanic origins. The most ancient part of Lipari is the western one where between 160 thousand and 1340 thousand years ago, 12 stratified volcanoes came to life, among them Timponi. After this intense eruptive period, a long pause in volcani activity followed.During the second period, about 100 thousand years ago, the stratified volcano Monte S. Angelo was formed. The volcanoes of the third period (40 thousand to 8 thousand years ago) erupted pumice and formed a range of peaks, such as Monte Guardia and Monte Giardina. The eruptive activity restarted after a long pause on the northeast side with the explosion of enormous quantities of pumice which formed Monte Pelato, and with the emission of the obsidian fall of Rocche Rosse (1200 years ago): Even during the historic era, pumice eruptions covered the Roman remains of Contrada Diana and Lipari Acropolis in the 1st and 5th century AC.

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VULCANO

The ancient Hiera (holy), once home to the God of the Fire, Hephaestus, is the most southern of the Aeolian archipelago's islands, and the closest to Sicily. It is separated from Lipari by a channel approximately 1.6 km wide. Its surface is 21 kmq. From a geological point of view, the island is composed of 4 vulcanoes : Lentia, Vulcano Piano, Fossa di Vulcano and Vulcanello. The only one still to be considered active is the Vulcano della Fossa. The island's volcanic activity was known in ancient times by the Greeks and the Romans who were very impressed by its Volcano's eruptions which were characterised by pyroclastic materials.

SALINA

After Lipari, it is the second largest island, approximately 27 km square. It is the highest, with its mountain peaks "Fossa delle Felci" and "Monte dei Porri", both inactive volcanoes. From these two mountains derives its ancient name Didyme, meaning twins. Its present name derives from a small lake, from which salt was extracted (and then used for caper and fish preservation). It is also the second most populated island after Lipari, it has approximately 2.300 inhabitants. The island is divided between the autonomous towns : S. Marina, Malfa and Leni. The hamlets are : Lingua, Rinella, Val Di Chiesa, Pollara e Torricella. Salina is composed of six volcanoes.

PANAREA

Panarea, anciently called Hycesia is the smallest of the Aeolian archipelago's islands, it has a surface of only 3,4 km square and is 11,5 miles far from Lipari . Its 280 inhabitants named panarioti, live in three districts: Ditella, S; Pietro and Drauto. Panarea is surrounded by the islets of Basiluzzo, Dattilo, Bottaro, Spinazzola and by the rocks of Lisca Bianca, Lisca Nera, the Panarelli and the Formiche. Scholars believe that Panarea, and the surrounding rocks and islets are the remains of a very ancient volcano, partially submerged in water in the interglacial periods.

STROMBOLI

The furthest and most easterly of the Aeolian islands is Stromboli, which is approximately 22 miles from Lipari. Ancient people called it Strongyle, the rotunda. It has a 12,6 km square area and approximately 420 inhabitants, called Strombolians. Its active vulcanoe is 920 metres above sea level and the sea bed is very deep (1200 m.). The island is a volcano which emerges from the sea. The emerged part, in continuous activity for at least 2000 years, formed mainly during two activity cycles. The ancient cycle, composed of solid material and lava fall eruptions, formed all the eastern part of the island. The recent one, mainly composed of lava flows, formed the whole western part of the island.

FILICUDI

Anciently called Phoenicusa (rich of ferns), together with Alicudi. Filicudi is geologically the oldest of the Aeolian archipelagos's islands; It has a 9,5 km square area and its highest part is 773 metres above sea level at the Fossa delle Felci. The inhabitants called Filicudari, are approximately 250 in number, living in the 3 main villages: Filicudi port; Pecorini a mare and Val di Chiesa. The island has a slightly oval shape and extends towards the south east at the Capo Graziano promontory; a small peninsula linked to the main part of Filicudi by a strip of Land: The island is made up of the production of six volcanic centres.

ALICUDI

It is the archipelago's most western island. The ancient name of Ericusa is due to the rich heather vegetation which covers the island. The heather is part of the islanders history and life, being used to cover huts, and to make pipes with the roots, Alicudi is a roundish cone, the top of which is the Filo dell'Arpa peak, and it has a 5,2 km square area; The inhabitants, Alicudari are 140 in number and all live off fishing and a little agriculture in the only populated centre, Alicudi port. Of volcanic origin, the island was formed mostly by the dead Montagnola volcano, formed approximately 150.000 years ago after explosive and effusive eruptions.