Day 5: Exploring the farthest, wildest islands: Alicudi and Filicudi

Good morning! We're starting our day from Lipari's pier, first point of the itinerary. We will take the hydrofoil to move, destination Filicudi!

Welcome to Filicudi! Maybe you don't know that Filicudi was known under the name of Phoenicusa, in a far past. Filicudi is located between the islands of Alicudi and Salina. Also known as the island of ferns, it is characterized by a rugged and rocky territory of volcanic origin. Its coasts are composed of dark and reddish rock, large reefs and numerous caves. It is dominated by Monte Fossa, an extinct volcano, and is divided into the inhabited centers of Filicudi Porto, Pecorini a Mare and Valdichiesa. Although the island is sparsely populated, it's dominated by sea and nature.

We have landed on the island of Filicudi, I invite you to get off the hydrofoil. Your feet will touch this land, for the first time. We are in the small town of Filicudi Porto. Looking around we will go a little further south, to a rent scooter.

As you well know, you need a vehicle to better explore the island, so I recommend the Filicudi Rental Center. You can choose between scooters, rafts and boats. I'm letting to you this choice! Following the link below you'll be able to check the website and book your vehicle in advance, if necessary. When you've rented You'll go to Zucco Grande.

A long road separates us from Zucco Grande, an uninhabited village in the north-eastern part of Filicudi. But here we are! You will find yourself in front of this abandoned village for many years, once populated by 300 people, but now there are ruins immersed in thick and lush vegetation, in a riot of colors! The ruins of the abandoned houses will take you back in time, and the streets now covered with ferns, remains of volcanic lava, remind us of the antiquity of this place. As you can see, in this ancient village the time has been stopped.

After leaving an ancient village, we immediately reach another one. In Capo Graziano stands the ancient prehistoric village dating back to around the Bronze Age (3400 BC to 600 BC) A path that is not too steep, easily practicable and well marked, whose view dominates the whole island. You can see the two sides of the island from the Montagnola di Capo Graziano: the port on the right, Pecorini mare and Alicudi island on the left. I invite you to capture a picture of this amazing point of view, and take it as a souvenir, even a selfie can be fine!

We move away from Capo Graziano, to get to Pecorini Mare. It is here that I invite you to get something to eat in this rotisserie, a different propose for the first time on this trip, because you're not going to eat there. You can eat these delights sitting on the beach looking at the landscapes that the island has to offer. If you love fish I recommend fried fish, otherwise fresh bread or other rotisserie pieces of your choice will certainly be delicious!

As suggested by its name, it is a town that overlooks the sea, and has a fishing village as its inhabitants. Our destination is the very suggestive beach, where I invite you to take a moment to have lunch, while admiring this landscape. At the end we'll embark to discover the beautiful Alicudi.

After having consumed your lunch, the boat awaits you to go and discover the beauty of the small and unspoiled Alicudi. If you want you could still stop in Filicudi to do various activities such as scuba diving or a boat ride, to admire a Filicudi's Faraglione like La Canna. Even the Grotta del bue marino deserves to be visited more closely.

Welcome to Alicudi, the last stop on our itinerary. The volcanic island is covered with heather, hence the name Ericusa. It is the most pristine of the Aeolian archipelago, thanks also to the absence of driveways, so there are no cars or motorbikes on the island, you could walk through the mule tracks and the panoramic paths that cross the island from the port. The mount of this island is Monte Filo d'Arpa, where chestnut and lime trees take the place of olive trees, prickly pears and caper plants. Beautiful, lonely and wild. This is how Alicudi appears, A quiet place with sea, sun and silence.
I invite you to get off at Alicudi Porto and go to Contrada Tonna, so as to admire the Aeolian architecture.

After walking for a while we'll arrive at Contrada Tonna. Located in the westernmost part of the island, there is a small group of rural houses, where you can admire the authentic Aeolian architecture: the steps built with dry stone walls and the ancient aedicules of the Via Crucis that testify to the devotion of the islanders.

We continue our walk to Alicudi going to Spiaggia Bazzina, it is located in a splendid natural position completely flat with small gray pebbles. You'll have to follow a path to get there: a very easy path, number 9, characterized by the fuchsia color. A difficulty could be climbing the 198 steps that separate us from the beach. Once arrived, the first thing you'll see, is a real oasis where harmony and peace can be breathed everywhere, in nature and in its sea, with pure and transparent waters, whose depths are low and give the opportunity to make spectacular dives. If you want you can stay until sunset, so you could do an emotional experience: seeing at the sunset all the shades that the sky takes on, meeting on this wonderful mantle of water. When you've ended to enjoy this little piece of paradise, don't forget to take on the ferry and get back to Lipari island!

After having seen the foreshortening that characterize this island surrounded by greenery and mountains, I invite you to get on the boat that will take us back to Lipari, therefore concluding our journey. P.S. If you want to visit Alicudi again, my advice is to do it by boat, so that you'll be able to see every angle. Unfortunately for its conformation, not the whole island is accessible by land.

Here we are back to Lipari, being dinner time I will take you directly to the restaurant I have chosen for you. But if you prefer, you could first stop by the hotel to cool off and then reach this delightful restaurant overlooking Marina Corta.

I hope you are ready for the dinner that awaits you! Tonight you can enjoy fish appetizers, caponata and other vegetables of your choice and, if you like, an octopus salad. Simple dishes of the Aeolian tradition, which you can enjoy watching Marina Corta enveloped by the first lights of the evening, for the last evening.

At the end of the dinner, return to the hotel. I recommend you get a good night's sleep, we haven't finished our trip yet! Tomorrow we will be comfortable in Lipari, before the departure, scheduled for the early afternoon. Good night!