Lipari Travel Guide

Lipari is a great base for travellers keen to explore the Aeolian Island archipelago and is a Sicilian island destination not to miss. Seen from the hydrofoil or perhaps hang-gliding above, the island is a masterful blend of natural beauty and interesting architecture. Lipari's fishing culture means it is a holiday destination made for fans of seafood and water sports as well as numerous excursions throughout this volcanic island group.

10 Things to See and Do
Lipari castle
Ancient Greek acropolis
Aeolian Islands Archaeological Museum
Streets of typical Aeolian-style homes
Canneto beach
Scuba-diving and snorkelling
Bird watching
Night-time excursion to Stromboli
Day-trips to the other Aeolian islands
Lipari's pumice stone caves

Events
August
Locals on Lipari celebrate their patron saint, Saint Bartholemew, no less than 4 times throughout the year, but the most important of these festivals is that on 24th August in the area of Marina Corta. Like so many of southern Italy's popular religious celebrations, the streets of Lipari come alive with lights and decorations, music performances and a fireworks display.
On the island, Saint Bartholomew's relics and statue are kept inside the Vascelluzzo, a magnificent artwork that weighs in with 2kg of gold and 30kg of silver, just to start.

Lipari's typical food and drink

Aeolian caponata
Similar to Sicily's caponata, the Aeolian variety uses eggplants, onion, tomato sauce, celery and olives as a base. The Aeolian touch, however, is the addition of capers from the island of Salina, a sought after ingredient that gives that extra punch. To top it off, a mix of salt, sugar and vinegar brings out the best of this sweet and sour dish.
Swordfish with capers and orange salad
Easy to prepare, this recipe is realised with thin cuts of smoked swordfish accompanied by an orange and lemon salad dressed with oil, Lipari capers, white vinegar, basil, mint and almonds. Yum.
Lipari's malvasia dessert wine
The local wine of the Aeolian islands is the malvasia. It is a wine that captures the colour and above all aroma and perfumes typical of Sicily. The name malvasia comes from the most common grape type used on the islands and the wine varies in colour from yellow to amber, is sweet in taste and smells of the local ginestra flower.

Spotlight on Lipari's murals
Sopralaterra - which means above the earth- is an area of Lipari that hosts a collection of colourful murals painted along the walls of a group of ancient Aeolian houses. Part of the district of Marina Corta, the murals are the initiative of a group of local artists and are an enjoyable site to visit for holiday-makers to Lipari.

How to get there
Lipari is the largest of the Aeolian Islands archipelago and needs to be reached by ferry or hydrofoil, the majority departing from Milazzo in Sicily.
By plane: The Fontanarossa airport of Catania is the closest to Milazzo, about a two hour drive away. Alternatively, there is the Falcone Borsellino airport of Palermo, Sicily's capital, about three hours away.
By car: Take the freeway, Autostrada N. A1 from Salerno to Villa S. Giovanni. From S. Giovanni you need to take the car carrying ferries across to Sicily. Once in Sicily, take Autostrada N. A20 Messina to Palermo and lookout for the Milazzo, Isole Eolie exit.
Other: Ferries and hydrofoils depart for Lipari from the ports of Naples, Messina, Milazzo, Palermo and Reggio Calabria. Milazzo is the closest train station.