Anything is possible on these fascinating and beautiful islands. Just off the northern coast of Sicily, they sparkle, like seven jewels, each with a different character. Volcanic in origin they may all be, but nothing can prepare you for their variety and richness. All of them are dominated by volcanic mountains, which rise steeply from the sea. The effect is dramatic on small islands. Although rugged, the rich soil has encouraged a profusion of vegetation, with masses of flowers and shrubs and greenery everywhere. Vulcano is closest to Sicily and has sulphurous mud baths, which warm the sea with their hot bubbles. Lipari is the islands’ main port and is thriving and pretty. Salina is extremely fertile and teems with flowers. Panarea is the smallest and most scenic. Even Stromboli bursts with colour. It is one of only five constantly active volcanoes in the world, and should not be missed. Alicudi and Filicudi are the most distant.

Two bonuses are the islands’ mild climate and warm sea. The summer stretches drowsily month after month and their “winter” is like eternal spring. The deep blue sea is crystal clear and pieces of black obsidian sparkle from its depths.

Lipari is really the best base for exploring the Aeolian Islands, with regular and frequent hydrofoil and ferry services to all of the other islands and Sicily, and also charter boats which specialise in daily tours and offer a very good service indeed. One of the things that you soon come to realise on Lipari is that the sea is the key to everything. The Liparese jump on a hydrofoil more easily than we would catch a bus. Traveling between islands is so easy and, once you have armed yourselves with the necessary timetables, which are very easy to read, you can island hop with absolutely no problems. The farthest island is no more that an hour away and Salina and Vulcano are within a matter of minutes. It’s such a fascinating experience.

As soon as you get off the hydrofoil you can call into one of the inviting bars that line the Lipari sea front. The town is not just for tourists, it has an indigenous population, so the shops, bars and restaurants do not close for the “out of season months”. Small shops selling artefacts rub shoulders with restaurants, and the main emphasis is on local and traditional recipes. Eating out on the islands is a feast. Of course, fish is a speciality and is cooked in a host of delicious ways. One of our local favourites is involtini di cernia al radicchio – stuffed stone-bass in radicchio leaf and roasted – irresistible! The local liqueur, malvasia, is like a sherry and well worth a taste. The huge variety of local speciality cakes and biscuits will tempt any sweet tooth. Buon appetito!

Lipari is a wonderful island in its own right, with a world-famous museum, a lovely old port and stunning scenery – it seems that almost wherever you are, you can see at least one of the other islands. The island also has some fantastic beaches. As it is part of a volcanic archipelago on some beaches the sand is darker, because it has been created from black volcanic rock. On others, it is almost white, because of the pumice deposits in the sea. One of the best known beaches of the island is at Canneto, only 4km north of Lipari town, just beyond the Monte Rosa promontory. You can enjoy on foot, or by boat, caves, rugged coastline and many other beaches around the island. If you are a keen walker, you will enjoy the interesting countryside, which is full of native vegetation, consisting mainly of heather, broom, oak and prickly leaf plants.

So meander through the narrow streets of the old town; sit and relax in a bar to watch the comings and goings of the boats and hydrofoils; “jump off” to other islands. Whatever you choose to do, Lipari will always leave you feeling that you never had quite enough time there; there was so much more that you could have seen or done and yet, even so, it was such a full experience. We think that the islands will always tempt you back…just one more time…and again…and again.