Vulcano Travel Guide

Vulcano is exactly as its name suggests, a volcanic island with a smoking crater to visit, sulphur mud baths to rejuvenate in and black sand beaches that contrast the Mediterranean sea's sparkle. The island is made up of one central crater, the Cratere della Fossa which is approximately 400m above sea level, and a smaller crater jutting out the side called Vulcanello, the 'little' vulcano. The volcano is still active but has not erupted since 1888-90 and the island today is a great place to experience firsthand a volcanic environment and its healthy mud treatments, or else retreat from mainland hustle and bustle to relax on a quiet island by the sea.

Top 10 of what to see and do
1. Vulcano's special mud baths
2. Trek up the volcano crater
3. Sunbathe and swim at the black sand beach
4. Snorkelling or scuba-diving
5. Hire a moped to visit Capo Grillo lookout and Gelso
6. Relax
7. Visit the Volcanologist Centre
8. Photograph the colours of the local flora
9. Take a day trip to the other islands
10. Enjoy a seafood dinner overlooking the ocean (Therasia Resort has a great restaurant!)

Events at Vulcano
December
If you happen to be at Vulcano during the Christmas season, locals celebrate this religious period with a living Presepe. A presepe is a traditional Christmas display, often in paper mache or wood carving, that is highly prized in southern Italy. They often involve intricate work and months of preparation to depict in detail local scenes and daily life around the manger where Christ is born. For the past 10 years on the island of Vulcano, local residents have brought the presepe to life, with a live show of people instead of crafted figurines.

Vulcano's Typical Food
Island cheese
Vulcano's local specialty is a type of cheese that is often eaten in salad with a dash of olive oil and pepper, and like the rest of the Aeolian Islands, seafood is fresh and fish dishes are abundant. A more unusual local variety is pasta and beans with mussels, but olives, capers, ricotta and the sweet Malvasia wine are all an equal part of the Aeolian culinary experience.

Tips

A ride around
Vulcano is not a large island but it's best to hire a car or moped to get from one side to the other. It's only a 15km trip but with a grand hill in the middle that is higher than the crater itself, the island is a bit too hot and steep to enjoy by walking or bike. You can see all in a short time and can hire a car for €30 for 3 hours, but if you can ride a moped it's only €15 for the whole day.
A good trip is to head over the hill to Gelso in the morning and walk down to the more secluded black sand beach for a swim and relax. After getting your fill by the water, head back up the hill and stop at one of the three hilltop restaurants for lunch during the midday heat. After enjoying the local food, stop off at the Capo Grillo lookout for a great panorama of the island before heading back down the hill, photographing the volcano and flora as you go!
Climbing the Cratere della Fossa
The only way to get to the crater edge is to walk and the track from the base takes about 2 hours. It is a sandy, pebbly track and you will need good walking shoes, definitely not open-toed or thongs. It is also an exposed walk, with little shade in the heat of the black rock and sun, so be sure to take hat, suncream and lots of water. The incredible feeling when you reach the top and the volcano's points of interest are well worth the climb.
Entertainment
Vulcano is not one of the party islands and there is not a wide range of night-time activities to pursue. There is, however, a pub that caters to a younger crowd as well as a discoteca. The general pace though is more relaxed, with a handful of island boutiques to browse for clothing gems and souvenirs and a selection of restaurants and cafes.
A little afield from the main town centre, which is near the port, the Therasia Resort has a chic restaurant that is open to the public. Its menu is pricey but the food fantastic and the position overlooks the whole of the Aeolian Islands archipelago. Indeed, they say it is the only place on the island where you can see all seven of the Aeolian Islands group.

How to Arrive at Vulcano

Vulcano is one of the islands in the Aeolian Islands archipelago and must be reached by ferry and hydrofoil, predominantly 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 Vulcano from the ports of Naples, Milazzo and Reggio Calabria. Milazzo is the closest port and the trip takes about 45 minutes. The closest train station is also at Milazzo. Please note, during bad weather boat services may not depart as per usual because of high seas.