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In the north-east of Sicily there is a paradise where the mystery of
nature is reflected seven times in a clean sea water. One has the
impression to admire something that belongs to the beginning of the
world: the seven islands of the Aeolian islands emerge from the sea
floor as seven huge shards of lava congealed and anchored to the bottom
of the sea.
The islands have been enhanced and immortalized by writers and painters
and great travelers of the past as Dumas, the Archduke Luigi
Salvatore of Austria (Luis Salvador of Habsburg-Lorraine of the
branch of Tuscany), Deodat de Dolomieu, Spallanzani, and
others the have described in imaginative and evocative tones.
The formation of the seven islands began over 700,000 years ago, and it
contributed to the elevations of the seabed Quaternary age, even today,
the Aeolian Islands are for the researchers a real open book, a vital
laboratory where the geological evolution of our planet can be studied
directly.
The primitive fire, the ancient struggle between the elements have
created a diverse set of amazing spots on the coast where they were
generated caves, cliffs, obelisks, rocks, smooth walls, black sand
beaches surrounded by a sea full of fish to this day.
The volcanic soil is fertile and all the islands were once covered by
forests of oak trees and a Mediterranean impenetrable to humans,
especially in the last two centuries, has largely replaced with
agricultural crops.
Communication difficulties of the past between islands and mainland
imposed, in fact, a total self-sufficiency, which has led to the
division of farmland into fields, often made of dry stone walls and
terraces built entirely by hand by generations of farmers.
Today, the agricultural landscape no longer has the appearance of a time
and olive trees, almond, fig, capers, lives that had taken the place of
the spot are greatly reduced as production realities. However, it was
felt in recent years a significant recovery in agriculture on the
initiative of private citizens who have returned to cultivate abandoned
vineyards and produce wine, while others hand-made pickles and pickled
products.
The lava creator of the seven islands would have been necessary for the
edification of the oldest Aeolian houses, those that still characterize
the landscape. Architecture are essential cubes side by side
horizontally or vertically, depending on the needs of the family.
Openings for access were small and light and very thick walls, in the
winter to keep the heat developed by cuisine or simple braziers, and for
coolness in summer. The foundations were made of blocks of lava, pumice
stone walls, and floors of the terraces of tufa.
Each part of the building housing the economy was strictly functional,
so, for example, the so-called "astrico" or the roof terrace, was used
to collect rainwater in underground tanks below the egg-shaped.
The entrance door opened on the "bagghiu”, a covered terrace with a vine
pergola or “cannizzi” supported by large pillars cylindrical stone
plaster," Pulera”.
Along the "bagghiu" there was always a step stone floor seats, which
opened at the entrance of the tank and, nearby, was placed on the wash.
Even today in the Aeolian islands: traditional landscapes, perfect
balance, where you can feel the serenity, tourists are attracted, as
once the writers and illustrators that were known to the world, the
extraordinary scenery and numerous traces of the past.
It is possible to visit the remains of ancient villages of prehistoric
huts, go up the flanks of active volcanoes to observe closely the
explosion, along trails in the bush that can reach angles of wild beauty
where you still encounter hawks, buzzards and ravens, visit ancient
ruins and museum collections of the world.
The coast also offer boat trips with unexpected views of caves, rocks,
complex reefs, beaches of fine volcanic sand.
Each island of the archipelago are specializing
more and more of its tourist offer:
Lipari,
the largest, attracts many Italian and foreign visitors for the great
landscape and cultural heritage and providing that usually make daily
excursions to other islands.
Salina
is instead devoted to a family tourism and torque, using homes owned or
rented and small romantic hotels.
Panarea,
the island chosen by Italian and foreign VIPs who have restored their
homes. Not only life and turned colors and lighting with its boutiques,
hotels and trendy nightclubs, but also rich in natural angles and
atmospheres.
Vulcano
attracts a rather young tourists and colorful.
Filicudi,
quieter, is for a tourist who wants to be secluded, away from the
crowds, but that is not ashamed to move around by car or boat, a
pleasure to find that the evening's friends every summer.
Alicudi
is a very special place, suitable only for the purists of tourism on the
island has no roads or paths, only an endless succession of stone steps
that climb the side of the volcano, linking scattered groups of real
Aeolian houses very well restored. On the island there is nothing but a
small restaurant and two grocery stores well stocked.
Finally
Stromboli,
inhabited by people from Sicily and other parts of the world who have
decided to live here in close contact with nature.
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