Lipari is the largest island and the main town of the chain of Aeolian Islands. This volcanic archipelago is located off the northern coast of Sicily in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The port town and the Aeolian Islands are great tourist destinations that are blessed with perfect weather. The port is dominated by Mount Chirica from where you can enjoy a spectacular view across all of the Aeolian Islands.
The island offers unique landscapes, volcanoes, pumice quarries, streams of obsidian, ancient ruins, water sports, wonderful, white sandy beaches, crystal clear sea and good fishing to its visitors.
The bustling, historic main street of Lipari is flanked by shops, restaurants and bars.
The water surrounding the island is the palest blue due to the processing of talcum, which along with that of pumice was the main industry of this island.
Port of Lipari with cliffs and a castle
A Little Bit of History
This unique island has been inhabited for nearly 6000 years and the early settlers in the 4th millennium B.C. were the Stentillenians, Sicily’s first known inhabitants.
Panorama of Lipari
They developed the economy of Lipari by trading obsidian, a glassy volcanic rock.
The flourishing commerce attracted the Greeks, who used the port of this island for their East-West trade route, and they constructed the Acropolis.
The Greeks named the islands after their God Aeolus, god of wind.
The Romans besieged the island in 251 B.C., and the flourishing island attracted many invaders such as the Byzantines, Goths, Arabs and the Normans.
Faraglioni of Lipari
The Arabs had devastated the town and deported all the inhabitants. However, in order to repopulate the archipelago, the Normans gave the land to the few remaining inhabitants and to whoever wanted to live on the island.
Pirates often raided the islands, and Barbarossa destroyed the cathedral and deported the inhabitants as slaves in 1544.
A defense wall was constructed around the town and it was only during the 18th century that Lipari gained back its economic power.
This island, along with the whole of Sicily was annexed to the Reign of Italy in 1860.
Aeolian Carnival, S. Bartolo Dei Pescatori, Palm Sunday, Easter Procession, May Day, and Film and Theater Festival are some of the famous festivals and events celebrated here.
Where is Lipari?
- 50.3 miles/ 81 km from Messina, Sicily, Italy
- 79.5 miles/ 128 km from Taormina, Siciliy, Italy
- 149.7 miles/ 241 km from Palermo, Sicily, Italy
- 108.1 miles/ 174 km from Catania, Sicily, Italy
- 114.9 miles/ 185 km from Catania-Fontanarossa Airport, Sicily, Italy
Things to See
- Cattedrale di San Bartolomeo
- Museo Archeologico Eoliano
- Parco Archeologico Contrada Diana
- Archeological Dig
- Citadel
Beaches
- Faraglioni
- Spiaggia Bianca (White Beach)
- Ponente (Marina Lunga)
- Papesca
Excursions
- Vulcano
- Salina
- Filicudi and Alicudi
In the winter the rocky island of Lipari is home to only about 12,000 people.
However, in the summer it is visited by thousands of visitors who come here to sunbathe in the lovely beaches, and to swim and dive in the blue waters of its sea.
We wish you a fantastic Mediterranean cruise!