The natural lake of warm muds is the perfect result of the balance between the intervention of man, and nature. The artificial human intervention has not changed anything of an already existing natural heritage; on the contrary, works of removal of the soil’s crust, did in the 60s of the twentieth century to create a volcanic lake , permitted a man to better overwork the properties of the place, without artificially changing its original qualities. The volcanic lake has emissions of water from lower slope with a presence of vapours of sulphur, anhydrite, metal saults, and natural radioactivity. It seems impossible to manage to immerge into the waters of a place where the strong smell of sulphur is perceived at the distance, but the landscape’s suggestion and benefit effects of volcanic muds give a sensation of great well-being, making the experience of immersion into muds unique and unforgettable, if considered as a souvenir of well-being, relax, and enjoyment of all the senses. Among rocks and in muds there are breathes which the crater makes; the immersion into the natural lake of warm muds of Vulcano is really the realisation of the symbiosis between man and nature. The continuous emission of these breathes creates mud of clay, whose elevated acidity and the elevated concentration of sulphur do not permit germs’ creation. Muds’ bathes do not only produce a sensation of a psychophysical well-being; on the contrary, they are real therapies. In fact, they are advised those who suffer from breathing and skin diseases, and those of the human musculoskeletal system.

The benefits concerning the human musculoskeletal system’s diseases refer to the analgesic and the relaxing action of mud, useful for the treatment of bursitis and tendinitis. For a mud bath, concerning the post-trauma of the bones, it is always recommended a doctor’s opinion.

In case of dermic pathologies, or more simply for those with a type of dry skin, there are some useful and needful advices. Mud must not be applied on one’s face by whoever as if it were a beauty mask. For example, those who have dry skin will not obtain the same benefits of who has more oily skin; the doctor’s advice is then indispensable, in order to avoid the aggravation of latent dermic pathologies, or those present in a light or a not serious form. The sulphuric emanations are also a perfect treatment for breathing pathologies. A natural way to do aerosol is to inhale the emanations at the safe distance of 50 cm from geyser. In conclusion, the natural lake of muds of Vulcano, is not only a unique scenery from landscape’s point of view, but is a kind of “natural clinic” for the treatment of body and soul. Both physical and psychological benefits are achieved, if we consider that treating your body in such a special and evocative place , you obtain an immediate sensation of well-being and relax. In short, the muds of Vulcano are a Spa in the open air, a natural thermal centre.

The best way to fully enjoy the rocky coasts full of bays, coves, and caves is surely the tour of the island via sea. The whole Aeolian coastal area has landscapes of an extraordinary beauty and uniqueness, but the sea of Panarea stands out for the presence of these islands: Basiluzzo, Bottaro, Dattilo, Lisca Bianca and Lisca Nera which, together with the island form a stand-alone archipelago situated upon the unique volcanic complex. The Panarea coasts, beyond being the demonstration of the powerful volcanic nature of the place, collect in a short stretch of sea several peculiarities which transform the discover of this small archipelago between Lipari and Stromboli into a continuous emotion, which vary from one island to another. Moving from the port in the southern direction, after having surpassed the promontory of Peppemaria and the village of Saint Pietro, you arrive to Drautto where the characteristic village is situated, extending along the coastal line. The Torrione Point, situated in front of Contrada Drautto divides from the Caletta di Zimmari a very beautiful half-moon shaped beach, mostly visited in August. The next stretch is that of the promontory Milazzese, rising with steep perpendicular walls upon the sea, where the ruins of the old prehistoric village arise. On the southern side of Milazzese Point a rocky coast forms a natural pool called Cala Junco, which according to many, represents the most beautiful and suggestive glimpse of the island. This point is perfect for diving into the wonderful waters of turquoise, indigo and intense blue colours. From the frontal beach an ancient path leads to Milazzese Point where you can admire the ruins of the 23 hubs of oval shape and one of quadrangular shape dating back to the Bronze Era. After the refreshing bath of Cala Junco go on towards the western side introduced by the rocky coast which tends to bitter the further you approach the western side. From the sea you understand that the island has two faces: the first one, corresponding to the village, is shaped by slight slopes which gradually go down towards the sea leaving space to plains and wonderful beaches; the second one, on the contrary, is harsh and wild full of gullies and undercoastal slopes which make it impossible to moor.

As soon as you arrive to Lipari it is hard to avoid the sight of the 15th century mighty wall of Castello. . The castle’s area had been populated from the Neolithic era (4000 B.C.), and every civilization which settled there left an indelible print upon the area’s architecture. The archeological excavations have pointed out the overlap of the cultures , following each other during the centuries, a true paradise for the archeologists. The castle is surrounded by a long wall, built by the Spanish under Karl V domination around the middle 1500. Karl V , after the incursion of Barbarossa in 1544, with the consequent deportation of the greatest habitants’ part, decided to grant the city a reliable defensive system. The enter door leads to a gallery at exit, where an iron shutter was closed, and thanks to the existent trapdoors, boiling oils were poured. The first building to see is the Church of Santa Caterina, already dismissed, built between XVI and XVIII centuries, with the cross nave. The castle has other religious structures; between them the Chiesa dell’Addolorata dating back to the 16th century, with a richly decorated Baroque façade; further there is the Chiesa dell’Immacolata built in 1747. In front of the Church of Santa Caterina two wide excavation ditches show the rests of huts dating back the Bronze Age and being a part of a Greek-Roman urban plant. Next to the excavations there is Concordato staircase, built in the 10th century to connect Saint Bartholomew’s Cathedral to the urban center.
Saint Bartholomew’s Cathedral, the main archipelago’s place of cult showing all its majesty, was re-built upon the ruins of antique pagan temples during the Hellenic Age, and then decorated more times. The last re-edification occurred as a consequence of the pirate’s Barbarossa invasion, who heavily destroyed the structure. Nowadays the church is presented as a Neo-baroque style, in its external part, and is neared by a bell tower. The interior of three naves, with the cross vault, is depicted with the episodes of Old Testament; it is also possible to admire the silver Statue of Saint Bartholomew, patron of the Aeolians, and the main archipelago’s icon of cult. From the Saint Bartholomew’s Cathedral you can reach the cloister of the antique Norman Abbey, of which only three sides were preserved because one of them was used during the construction of the right nave after the amplifying.

On the south-west coast you can observe a Greek model reproduction of the Greek Theatre realized in 1976, which offers a suggestive background, with the view on Marina Corta port. Next to this area there is an archeological park , where Greek Age sarcophagi, found in Diana necropolis, are collocated. On the east part of this area there is a small Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, constructed between the 12th and the 18th centuries upon the ruins of the already existent place of cult. Dulcis in fundo, in the castle’s area there are various halls of the Archeological Aeolian Museum: Bernabo Brea.

The small village of Ginostra is situated on the south west part of the island and up until a few years ago it held the record of the smallest port in the world: il pertuso – the hole.  Set in the rocks it allowed access to only one boat at a time and contained only three embarkments, the others were pulled in with the help of characteristic beams of wood on which the boat sild onto. For bigger boat this however was impossible so they were usually reached by a smaller boat often with oars once reached but the smaller boat outside of the harbour supplies and passengers where loaded aboard and taken to shore. This operation was however often impossible due to weather conditons, isolating to small town for long periods of time. In 2004 the old port was widened to hasten evacuations in case of a natural disaster. The work preserved the state of the town and it’s small port.In the same year the toen was connected to an electric line and a supply resivour, Until then electricity was supplied by solar panels and motor generators. due to the fact that there was no water on the isalnd it was collected from rooves and converged in a tank which each house was provided with. The town is reachable only by a steep track that leads to the square where a monument for those who died in WWII can be found. The sqaure forks off into two small streets. One that leads to the church and the other to Lazzaro beach. The town only had 30 residents accustomed to solitude and tranquility. The small number of houses still mantain an intact architecture. For people who love peace and quiet where only the noises that can be heard are the wind, sea and the hooves of a mule the only means of transport that takes supplies from the port to town centre.

The Sea and the beaches of Ginostra

The coast surrounding the town has no real beaches but that doesn’t deny people the pleasure of diving into the clean trasperant water. There are three point where it is possible to swim, below the church a path leads to a rocky corner surrounded by colbolt blue water, near the harbour naturally made pools are set into the rock creating a truely pituresque scene. The third beach is Lazzaro, an old slipway leads to the sea. The seabed supplies those who enjoy diving with a unique experience. A submearsed arc becomes the frame to a thriving vegetation. At the area before the church at about 15-20 meteres depth there is an old wreck of a military ship. The depths of the island are populated by groupers, bream, eels, octopuses and sea urchins, also from the shore if you are lucky you will see whales, dolphins and swordfish passing by.