General Information/Map

Map of Vulcano

Vulcano is the Aeolian island closest to the Sicilian coast, it is in fact only 12 miles from Milazzo. It measures about 21 square kilometers and it consists of three now inactive volcanoes – Lentia, Vulcano Piano and Vulcanello – and of Vulcano della Fossa that instead gives signs of activity.

According to a Greek mythology, the island was the abode of the god Hephaestus, the god of volcanoes, of the endogenous forces of nature, of technology and of metals. It was believed that in the crater of the active volcano there was the workshop of the god of fire where the Cyclops  produced the weapons of the gods.

Vulcano is an island with a certain charm and attracts many tourists especially for the presence of springs, of ponds mud and of fumaroles.

We quickly notice to be near to the island by the strong smell of sulfur derived from the operation of the Vulcano of Fossa. This smell is really strong in some parts of the island and permeates the skin and clothes. For this reason we suggest you to use, especially for swimming in the pond mud, old clothes which can be throw if necessary.

At Vulcano you can find everything you need: from small supermarkets, to the ATM, to the emergency doctor. We recommend you to  rent a bicycle or a motorbike or a car to get around the island. You must remember that unlike Lipari, at Vulcano there isn’t a street that accomplishes the circumnavigation of the island.

Getting there

Vulcano is connected to the other islands and to the mainland by ferries and hydrofoils. Starting from Milazzo, Vulcano is the first stop and the travel is just over half an hour long. For more information see the article of the Aeolian Islands in general.

Must see

Tour of the island by foot:

We recommend to stop at Port of Ponente, where there are the famous black sand beaches  and where the sea water is warm because of the gases that are emanating from the seabed.

Not far away there is the Port of Levante with pond thermal mud; here you can immerse yourself and enjoy its beneficial properties, especially useful for rheumatism and some skin diseases (the entrance is a fee). To rinse the mud, you can dip yourself in the sea that boils because of underwater fumaroles. Always close to Port of Levante, there are several fumaroles that emitting gas that have  health benefits.

You must also see the beautiful small beach of Cheese and the small beach of Mastro Minico, which are situated on the south of the west beach. Another beautiful beach is the beach of Gelso, that is situated  in the other part of the island and to reach it we suggest to rent a mean of transport or to take a taxi.

Do not miss the climb to the crater of the Vulcano della Fossa at 400 m of altitude. You start from Port of Levante, the climb takes about an hour and you must be equipped with boots. When you reach the crater the sulfur smell is getting stronger, but the view of the panorama from up there is truly unforgettable.

Near Port of Ponente there is the Center of Volcanology.

On the island you can visit several caves (such as the cave of Rossi at Piano dell’Arpa) that were initially rocky cave of graves, later used as dwellings.

Tour of the island by boat:

We recommend to take a boat trip to discover the wonders of the island. The tours leave from Port of Levante and bring tourists to see the islet of Vulcanello, where you can observe the so-called Valley of the Monsters with its disturbing figures that are been formed after the solidification of volcanic material.

Continuing you arrive to the wonderful Horse Cave, with its lakes, tunnels, stalactites, stalagmites and special figures that are the result of sulfur water and of vapors.

Not far away you can admire the Venus Pool, that is a natural amphitheater surrounded by rocks and basaltic tuff.

Near the black beaches you can see the famous cliffs of the Mermaid.

At Vulcano there is also the possibility to make some beautiful diving.

Where to stay

Vulcano offers all types of accommodations, from Residences to the hotels with spa and wellness areas, to campings.

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Restaurants/Typical cuisine

The restaurants are mainly located in the center of Vulcano, near the Port of Ponente and the Port of Levante. For more information, see the article about the typical cuisine of the Aeolian Islands.

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Shopping

See the article of the Aeolian Islands in general.

Links

On the website of the Municipality of Lipari, in the “Section of Tourism”, you will find all relevant information on the island.