The island of Panarea, the smallest of the Aeolians, is situated to the north-east from the promontory of Milazzo, 3km long and 2km large, it covers the surface of 3,3 sq. km extending upon a periplus of 5 miles. The island is crossed by a dorsal, which divides it from north to south, and reaches its peak with Pizzo del Corvo (421m), upon which an iron rood is clearly visible. The inhabited zone is situated on the eastern and the south-western side, where the morphology of the territory becomes milder, leaving space to timid slopes, sometimes flat. The northern and the western side is rocky, crossed by steep cliffs. In the coastal zone the high walls make it difficult, or even impossible the moor operations. The island lacks a safe harbour; the nearest is 11,5 miles away from the Lipari port, or 14 miles away from the eastern port of Vulcano. There is no particular danger to sail in proximity of Panarea, obviously at safe distance from the coast. On the contrary, pay particular attention if you navigate next to Basiluzzo, Lisca Bianca, Bottaro and Dattilo because of the rocks under the water surface and numerous shallows. A half a mile on the south-east of Panarea there are Le Formiche rocks (38° 37,55– N 015°05,14′ E) of a little visibility, red sector for those who sail at night. Pay great attention to this area. From the marine point of view, the western side of Panarea offers good shelters from the winds blowing from north and west thanks to several coves on the side. The advised points for the landing are:

Cala Junco

(38°37,28′ N – 015°03,38′ E)

Cala Junco, situated to the south of Milazzese promontory upon a sandy seabed, is a great landing point in case of winds blowing from north and north-west.

Milazzese Bay

( 38°37,62E 015°04,12′E)

In the Milazzese Bay it is possible to moor in 7-8 m of water depth; the bay reveals to be a great harbour in case of winds blowing from north and north-west.

Cala della Nave

(38°38,81N -019°03,71 E)

If the winds blow from the south the unique sheltered harbour is that of Cala della Neve, situated on the north-western side of the island, next to the Nave rock. The nearing to the harbour is quite safe, but because of the rocky seabed, it is better to use a buoy.

Ditella dock

(N38° 38,261 – E15°04,592)

The principal dock is that of Scalo Ditella, situated to the east in proximity of the inhabited centre of San Pietro, where a pier nearly 100m long and 10m large ergs upon a sandy seabed, permitting the landing of hydrofoils, ferries, and the execution of the normal economic activities. The southern side of the pier is only used for hydrofoils. The pier’s header together with the first 5 metres on the northern side are used for a landing and the ferries’ manoeuvres; the remaining parts of the pier at the north id used by fishers and boaters. The pier suffers the winds of the I, II and the IV quadrants, and represents a good shelter in case of winds of the III quadrant. The landing in the range of 200 metres from the pier’s header is forbidden. There are the services of fuel, hydric provision, outside storing, rubbish service, and landing. Furthermore, next to the port area there is the slipway, a floating crane, cashpoint, a drugstore, a grocery, hotels, and Emergency medical Service. For the boaters next to the moor of the island there is a buoy mooring berth with a transfer service. It is better to reserve , especially in simmer period, in order to assure a place.

Via Drautto, Panarea (Isole Eolie) Tel. 333.4233161 / 330.849295 / 328.2830153 email:nautilusnoleggio@tiscali.it

Basiluzzo

 (N38 39.853 E15 06.867)

Basiluzzo is a part of the same volcanic complex of Panarea, such as other rocks Lisca Bianca, Dattilo, Bottaro, Lisca Nera, Panarelli and Le Formiche, which seem to form a stand-alone archipelago between Lipari and Stromboli. While sailing between several isles and rocks, pay attention not only to the rocks, many of which are not visible, but also to the sea traffic which in summer period reaches great proportions. The island of Basiluzzo ,situated round 2 miles away from the promontory of Peppamaria in the north-eastern direction, has a dimension of circa 1km of length from east to west, 500 m from north to south, and is the major of the satellites surrounding the island. The island at maximum reaches a height of 165 m, and quite the whole coast line is abrupt and inaccessible, except a small piece of the beach next to the eastern point which allows the small boats to moor. From this beach an ancient and subjected to landslides path climbs till an open space, where the ruins of an ancient Roman villa are situated, with mosaic floors and multi-coloured walls; moreover for the fond of depths at 7,5m of depth near the small bay you can see the ruins of the old boat house of the Roman period. From the isle’s peak it is possible to admire the sunsets upon Stromboli and Panarea. To the west, near Basiluzzo, there is Spinazzola rock, a charming rocky formation, no more accessible, but where it is possible to dive into clear waters.

Lisca Bianca

(N38 38.389 E15 06.910)

Lisca Bianca, an enormous rock situated at circa 1mile to the east from San Pietro village. Its dimensions do not exceed 300m of length and 150m of width, and the height of round 30m. Its whitish colour which gave the name to the rock is due to the already vanished activity of fumarole, which however continue their gas emanation at a few metres from the island; a great scene for those who like snorkelling. They can also visit the Grotta degli Innamorati (Cave of the Lovers) , and perhaps, according to tradition, seal their love with a kiss.

Dattilo

(N38 38.427 E15 05.896)

Dattilo, situated to the west of Lisca Bianca, between this one and Panarea, is slightly inferior in length, compared to the last one, and stands out for its pyramidal shape; its peak arrives to 103 m of height. Rocky coasts are interrupted by small gaps and caves; the western part is more rocky, and there are the rocks of Guglia di Dattilo, while on the eastern side the coast is made of steep slopes.

Bottaro

(N38 38.277 E15 06.615)

Bottaro, the third as dimension, is situated to the south-west of Lisca Bianca, and is mostly visited because of gas emanations from the seabed, giving life to a suggestive scenery only few meters towards north from this isle. La Sorgente dei Quadrati creates a unique landscape; carbon dioxide and sulphide hydrogen from the depth reach the surface making the waters boil.

Lisca Nera

(N38 38.112 E15 06.615)

Lisca Nera, a small rock of the elongated shape, a hundred of meters long to the south-west from Bottaro, stands out from other rocky formations of dark colours which surround Panarea; this is the origin of the name.

Panarelli e Le Formiche

 (N38 37.639 E15 05.014) (N38 38.552 E15 05.956)

Panarelli e Le Formiche, two groups of rocks located respectively to the north-west from Dattilo, and to the west from the coast area of Milazzese promontory. Pay attention because they are hard to see.

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 real paradise for the scuba-divers. The Panarea coasts, beyond being the demonstration of the powerful volcanic nature of the place, collect in a short stretch of sea numerous peculiarities which make the discover of this small archipelago between Lipari and Stromboli a continuous emotion, which vary from one immersion to another.

La Nave rock

Difficulty: medium
Depth: 10-32m
Current: media
Visibility: excellent

The immersion, situated on the north-west of Panarea, in correspondence of the La Nave Rock, starts with the descent of the stack’s vertical wall, and the observation of colourful sponges, astroides, and algae which create a perfect habitat for the colonies of parrotfishes; moreover, in the wall’s gaps octopus and morays nestle. The immersion continues with the discover of the basement, where the seabed is composed of big stones, used as a shelter of groupers and Linnaeus, the Spinazzola rock.

The rock Spinazzola

Difficulty: Easy
Depth: 0-45m
Current: Low
Visibility: excellent

Next to Basiluzzo, on the western side between the Spinazzola and Basiluzzo rocks, the immersion begins. At circa 10 metres of depth, on the rocky plateau you can see a collapsed zone, where some meter deeper a bleak aspect is transformed into an explosion of colours, thanks to the presence of astoides, colourful sponges, gorgonians, orange madreporaria (scleractinia), and starfishes who populate the white wall of the monolith. Between the gaps of the vertical wall it is not difficult to see octopus, morays and redfish, while the basement, at 45 metres depth, is made of a stretch of big boulders, an ideal habitat for groupers and Linnaeus.

The shipwreck of Lisca Bianca

Difficulty: high
Depth: 25-42m
Current: media
Visibility: excellent

The sea of the Aeolian Islands keeps countless relics. Unfortunately few of them are reachable because of the prohibitive depths where they lie, and because of the archaeological obligations which ban any visit. One which can be visited is the Llanishen relic, British steam merchant ship wrecked in the last years of the 19th century after it clashed against the rocks of Lisca Nera. The wreck lies on the seabed of circa 30-40 meters in navigation position, in way to make it visible in its entirety yet from the top. Unfortunately the hull is in a very bad condition of conservation; the wooden parts are quite totally absent, and the part of sheets which constituted the bow are now ruined. The better conserved part of the relic is the stern where you can perfectly distinguish the helm and the propeller, now partly covered up with sand. The relic is populated by groupers, breams, morays, castagnole, spirographs and starfishes.

The whole world knows and recognizes the figures of Saint Pietro and Paolo, the apostles of Jesus Christ, the apostles of people who evangelized Jews and Greeks, and brought the message of Christ throughout the world. They died as martyrs in Rome under the emperor Nerone , on June 29. The whole world, with great devotion and faith respects and remembers them praying. Panarea, the wonderful island of the Aeolian archipelago, celebrates S. Pietro, the patron saint of the island, in a particularly devotee way. The Saint’s statue is brought over the shoulder of devotees along the principal streets of the island; the procession is accompanied by the band with intervals for a pray. The characteristic of this procession, which makes it fascinating and suggestive, is the moment when the statue is collocated over the boat , and goes over the sea. A suggestive procession of the patron saint who protects the island from the earth and the sea, who blesses the devotees from the streets to the sea, the soil and waters blessed by a natural richness and beauty. The procession via sea remembers the inhabitants’ passion for fishing, the primary source of work, as if it were a natural vocation for those born in these wonderful places. In this way we understand a strong devotion of the inhabitants of Panarea for S. Pietro, a fisherman during his life before having met Jesus, the fisher of men after having met the son of God. The celebration goes on for two days: on June 28 and 29. The procession, generally (obviously all depends on the annual organisation of the event), is organized at the end of celebration, on June 29. The day of the celebration’s eve is full of events which prepare to the climate of celebrations: folkloristic groups, dances, songs, typical products, and stalls are useful to recreate a picturesque and delicious picture which catch attention and curiosity of many tourists, and awake the faith of the island’s inhabitants, who thanks to these events show the beauty of their history, and the value of autochthonous traditions and culture. Even during the day of procession there are moments of art and entertainment; during the celebration’s closing there are spectacular fireworks upon the sea, considered as the real protagonists of the day.

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.

The small island of Panarea is an ideal place to fully enjoy the attractive coast both for those who like to relax in a real corner of paradise, and especially for all those fond of snorkelling and immersions; of rocky coasts, rich of creeks and suggestive glimpses. The beaches reachable on foot from the inhabited centre are all situated on the eastern and the southern side of the island; the rest of the island is steep and is quite totally inaccessible. The other beaches are situated on the near isles of Basiluzzo and Lisca Bianca, easily reachable from the port thanks to several boats, which will take you to the chosen island at low cost, to take you back some hours later.

Cala Junco beach

The beach, situated near the prehistoric village of Punta Milazzese on the south-west from San Pietro pier, is reachable on foot in 30 minutes. Follow the road which leads first to Drautto and then, through an ancient path to Cala Junco, probably used in a prehistoric village like a boat-house. The bay making part of it is shaped as an amphitheatre, surrounded on its sides by extravagant rocky formations which gave birth to a natural pool. This cove is considered not only as the most beautiful bay of the island, but of the whole archipelago; the waters that bathe it assume extraordinary colours varying from emerald green to turquoise , and intense blue. During summer period the cove is quite always crowded, but it is not an obstacle to enjoy the diving into fresh waters, and to lay and relax inside the real corner of paradise.

Cala degli Zimmari beach

Situated on the southern side of the island the Cala degli Zimmari is reachable in 20 minutes from the port, following the road which first leads to Drautto, and then follows to the prehistoric village. The cove is the unique sandy beach of the Panarea island and is also called the “read beach” for the suggestive colour of the soil which assumes reddish colour.

Calcara beach

Situated on the north-eastern side of Panarea and reachable in 20 minutes through a road leading from San Pietro to Ditelle, the Calcara beach is one the most suggestive beaches because of its unmistakable volcanic aroma which you breathe in. It ergs upon the collapsed crater and is famous above all for its harmless fumaroles which from the soil soar gas, making it warm, modifying its shades, and creating furrows in the soil.

Panarea, despite its small dimensions, offers to those who like nature several possibilities of excursions both by boat, such as the visit of Basiluzzo, Bottaro, Lisca Bianca, Dattilo, and Lisca Nera, and those more strenuous to discover the hinterland and Punta del Corvo. The excursions into Panarea’s hinterland permit to discover the unknown meanders and to fully understand the evolution of the locality, once based principally on agriculture and sheep-farming, and then transformed thanks to the tourism into a glamour and elite destination. The attribution of such kind of notoriety is partially due to human activity which contributed to offer the growing number of services as a support of tourism, but especially to natural attractions of objective beauty and uniqueness. That is why we advise not to miss the visit of Panarea’s hinterland in order to discover natural attractions of the island. While passing across the old mule tracks, raising towards the pick of Punta del Corvo, you feel the strong atmosphere of the population which had to fight against wild nature and against the isolation with a little tools. The work of the ancient farmer’s civility is already tangible at distance, but only when you fully immerge into it, you understand the enormous work made to detract portions of soil from the mountain and use them for agriculture and for the construction of all the paths, canals and tanks, indispensable for that kind of activity.

The visit to the prehistoric village

Distance: 3km
Difficulty: easy
Duration: 1 hour

More than an excursion it is about a great walk to discover the southern side of the island. The archaeological site can be reached through the street which leads from the port to the overlying inhabited zone; then it turns to the left in Drautto direction, and continues towards Cala Junco. The path leading to the village shows wonderful glimpses; in the first part you cross the village of Drautto, a hundred of whitewashed houses spread over the coastal line, surmounted by enormous stairs once used for agricultural purpose. Once you leave the houses behind you, Cala degli Zimmari starts, where it is possible to dive into the wonderful waters which bathe it, and to relax on the soft black sand. At this point only a short distance divides you from the prehistoric village and from the magic Cala Junco. The settlement, dating back to the Bronze Age, is situated upon the promontory Milazzese, and is composed of 23 huts of oval shape, and 1 of quadrangular one, surely place of cult or reunion, where pottery, pots, millstones, and Mycenaean tools were found. It is not a case that the site is situated upon a plateau, extending towards the sea, protected by high walls which transform it into an ideal place for the defence. This fact makes us understand the anxiety towards pirates and intruders during that period. From this point an ancient path leads to Cala Junco, probably used in prehistoric times as a boat house; the bay making part of it is shaped as an amphitheatre, surrounded on its sides by extravagant rocky formations which gave birth to a natural pool. This cove is considered not only as the most beautiful bay of the island, but of the whole archipelago; the waters that bathe it assume extraordinary colours varying from emerald green to turquoise and to intense blue. During the summer period the cove is quite always crowded, but this is not an obstacle to enjoy the diving into fresh waters, and to lay and relax inside the real corner of paradise.

From San Pietro to Punta del Corvo

Difficulty: easy
Altitude difference: 420m
Time: 2.5 hours

The shortest path to reach Punta del Corvo is that leading from the Saint Pietro village to the peak. Follow the principal road from the port leading to the overlying village, and go further till you take the signed direction to the cemetery. Moving further from the cemetery the paved road becomes of clay, until it transforms into a mule track. The path is indicated with red and white paint upon the rocks near crossroads; pay particular attention to these signs. An error could considerably prolong the climbing. The route continues between the bleak vegetation, principally compound of shrubby plants, typical of the Mediterranean zone, myrtle trees and cypresses. Once reached a peak, marvellous landscapes with the view upon the archipelago are visible on the horizon, together with the view of the village and the western side covered with cliffs and canals, a perfect habitat for the nestling of Eleonora’s Falcon colony. Those who decide to continue the excursion are advised to come down on the southern side of Panarea near Cala Junco, and the prehistoric village of Punta Milazzese. Going down the road leading from the port to the underlying village you suddenly arrive to the crossroad; follow the road leading to the right in the northern direction, and you will quickly find yourselves in Contrada Ditella, where beyond the typical Aeolian village it is possible to visit the ancient Assumption Church. Once passed the church you reach thermal springs, and the harmless fumarole of the Calcara Beach. The beach situated in a basin, the probably remain of a collapsed volcano, shows an unusual landscape; fumarole’s gas soars from soil, making it warm, modifying its shades, and creating furrows in the earth.

The Calcara and Punta del Corvo

Difficulty: hard
Altitude difference: 420m
Duration: 3 hours

From this point restart the route, climbing towards the mount until you definitely leave the paved road, to move upon the harsh paths leading to the Punta del Corvo peak (421m). The route is quite difficult, that is why we advise a discreet athletic preparation, suitable shoes, water provision, and in case you want to enjoy amazing sunsets , a torch: the path, such as the rest of the whole island lacks public illumination. Once arrived to the peak, you can enjoy extraordinary landscapes with the view upon Basiluzzo , the Panarea village, and further upon the other islands. It constitutes a perfect evasion to escape the social life of the island and to immerge into the silent and harsh nature.

The history of Panarea, similarly to other isles, is strictly bound to Lipari’s events, being the major and the most populated island, whose influence has signed the history of the archipelago. The first findings date back to the period of the Diana style, attested by the findings of the Timpone del Corvo. In Calcara locality there were discovered some of the finds connectable to Capo Graziano, who from XVIII-XVII to XV B.C. found his maximum expression in Filicudi, in the namesake area. Dating back to the Bronze Age is the settlement in Punta di Milazzese locality, composed of 23 huts of oval shape, and 1 of quadrangular one, surely place of cult or reunion, where pottery, pots, millstones, and Mycenaean tools were found. The site, not without reason, is situated upon a plateau, extending to the sea, protected by high walls which transform it into an ideal place for the defence from pirates and intruders. In VII B. C. Sicilian coasts were scattered by Etruscans’ ships, in search of richness and areas to colonize. Obviously the minor islands as the Aeolians did not escape raids; on the contrary, because of their strategic and at the same time, isolated position, they became a greedy prey for the intruders. A certain kind of stability is due to the Greeks who settled the archipelago substituting the Etruscans, permitting the islands to have one of the moments of major economic and demographic splendour. The suffered stability brought by the Greeks was compromised when the conflict between Carthage and Rome began. The islands of Lipari, allied with the Carthaginians underwent numerous attacks until they definitely passed in 252 B.C. under the Roman domination. A unique evidence are the remains on the Basiluzzo island, constituted of mosaic floors and colourful plasters, the remains of the villa probably built by a Roman owner, fallen in love with the harsh nature, peace and amazing landscapes. The Roman domination, as the other two that followed it, the Byzantine and the Arabian one, brought to a slow but inexorable decadence, risking the total abandon. The Aeolian Islands, such as Panarea acquired the yearned tranquillity under the Norman Domination (1340-1544), which assuring peace, permitted the economic and demographic revival of the archipelago. At the beginning of the XVI century the Arabs and the Turkish brought death and destruction in the Mediterranean, and obviously Panarea was not spared. The evidence of such raids is to be found in the toponymy related to Contrada di Drautto, whose name derives from the pirate of the Arabic-Turkish ethnic Draugh, the successor of Barbarossa. At the end of the XVII century, after having nearly touched the abandon, the island was repopulated with an agricultural purpose by Lipari’s farmers, who initially moved only during the seeding and the harvesting period, but over time, they settled down reaching circa 1000 units. The most recent history is not made up of invasions or piracy, but of hunger, misery and dissatisfactions, which forced , at the end of the XIX century, the greatest part of the Aeolian inhabitants to mass emigration towards America and Australia, in search of better life. The tourism is a relatively recent phenomenon, partly due to the spread of cinema in 1960 throughout the archipelago, which permitted to promote the charming and the wild nature of the island. L’avventura ( The Adventure), the film of Michelangelo Antonioni, in major part set in Panarea, Basiluzzo and Lisca Bianca, helped to point the spotlights upon this magic island, and to attract numerous visitors.

The museum of Panarea, a detached section of the Bernabo Brea Museum of Lipari, rises in a small locality composed of two halls belonging to Saint Pietro Church, once used as a storage and as a tank. The finds collocated there were all discovered in Panarea and adjacent isles, and are concerned with both historical and geological island’s evolution. The first hall greets us with an introduction of the geological and volcanologic history by means of illustrative tables and minerals which show the evolution of the wide volcanic complex. In the same room there are finds dating back to the Neolithic and to the Bronze Age, found near the prehistoric village of Punta Milazzese, in Piano Quartara, and in Calcara. In the second room of particular interest are: the funeral sets from the Drautto necropolis; two funeral pieces dating back to the V and the IV B.C., one of which found in Basiluzzo; the Greek-Italic amphora, dating back to the IV-III B.C.; some vases with black lacquering, found in a shipwreck of Dattilo, sank in the IV B.C: ; some amphora dating back to the I B.C., found in a shipwreck of Alberti, and dulcis in fundo, a piece of anchor.

A small archipelago between Stromboli and Lipari, this is the way Panarea appears to be at the first sight: small islands and rocks which, emerging from the sea, give place to one of the most charming places of the whole Mediterranean. Panarea, together with isles and minor rocks, almost situated on the eastern side of the island, constitute a unique volcanic underwater complex. Between them Basiluzzo is the most charming, for two reasons: the first is to be found in its recent formation, which makes it one of the youngest craters of the Aeolians; the second ,in its dimensions which have permitted the agricultural use, or small settlements; situated at circa 2 miles to the north-east of Panarea, it extends upon the surface of 300 sq. m., representing the biggest uninhabited island of the Aeolian Islands. The volcanic origin of the place is already evident thanks to first observation of lava stratifications, which on the culminating point have reached the height of 169m upon the sea level. The island is principally constituted of rhyolite, a light-colour mineral which alternates with the black lucid colour of obsidian, and the white colour of pumice. The Basiluzzo formation dates back to 50,000 years ago, much more recent if compared to the near islands, and to Panarea, which formed between 150,000 and 300,000 years ago. The actual emerged portion of Basiluzzo is the remain of a volcanic neck, once much more extended, but now eroded by marine action and by bradyseismic phenomena, which create the soil’s lowering as the cause of emptying of magmatic chamber. The finds of Basiluzzo seem to confirm that the island, even if only for a simple visit, was frequented since the Neolithic Era; as a confirm of this thesis there are a lot of finds, amenable to the prehistoric village of Punta Milazzese in Panarea, on the southern side. Another important find, dating back to the Roman period, is that of a mosaic floor’s remains, and of coloured plasters, the remains of a villa probably built by a Roman owner, fallen in love with the place’s uniqueness. Adjacent to the villa they were found a covered barrel, used to gather waters, and a small boathouse, quite totally visible still today from 5m depth. Basiluzzo, during the last centuries, was frequented for an agricultural and a pasture purpose with its 3 hectares cultivated with cereals. This fact, at the end of the 17th century was the origin of a dispute between abusive farmers and the bishop of Lipari, the archipelago’s administer. Finally, in 1991, with the aim of preserving the ecosystem, an integral natural reserve, including all the other minor rocks, beyond the island, was established. On Basiluzzo there is only one natural landing on the very east point, from which an ancient path leads to an open space. Between the sharp rocks there are lush rosemary, and the lemons of the Aeolians. The flat part divided by dry walls, once used to grow the cereals, is today spontaneously invaded by heather, mastic, and common onion. Visiting Basiluzzo means to immerge into a unique atmosphere where the absolute silence is interrupted only by breaking of the waves against the coast, and by rustle of the wind. Once reached the peak it is possible to enjoy an amazing scenery of other rocks, and of Panarea; moreover, from this point you can fully appreciate the sharp morphology of this inhabited monolith. Basiluzzo continues giving emotions observing the coast, that is the reason why they advise those who have the possibility to totally circumnavigate it in order to observe the extraordinary coastal morphology, composed by small caves, high walls where lava stratifications and bizarre rocky formations, risen from the sea like monuments, are evident.

One of the most famous and aspired destinations of the international tourism ,Panarea enchants from ages wayfarers, artists, musicians, and stylists, who transformed it into an ideal scenery where to spend their holidays. A mix of history , nature, culture, and social life, which melt together to give you a unique atmosphere… Welcome to Panarea, 3,5 sq. km full of charm and beauty, where the joyful islander’s vitality will donate you both moments of full social life and sensations of peace and fulfilment, while discovering lone paths and small inhabited isles. Its coasts, so beautiful as the sea which surrounds them, are the evidence of the tumultuous past made of conquers and piracy , which influenced not only the island’s aspect, but also its inhabitants’ temper and traditions. Panarea is an ideal stay both for those who like a background of joyful social life in luxurious hotels, trendy locations, manifestations and sea sports, and for those who conceive their holiday as a moment of absolute relax, immerged into nature, and far away from the modern life’s frenzy. On the island it is when the sun no more shines, and the black night starts, and the streets are full of persons that the locations become illuminated , and the music louder. The centre of social life is San Pietro, the glamour core of the Aeolians, full of usual nocturnal sounds where the vacationers invade the most trendy pubs to taste an aperitif, before immerging themselves into the involving sound of the island’s discos.