Arriving at Alicudi means stepping into a timeless land. This island is the most remote of the Aeolian Islands and preserves their essence intact.
If you love real adventures—extreme ones that reward you with emotions only after effort and sweat—then Alicudi is the island for you. Set in the Tyrrhenian Sea, a jewel of the Aeolian Islands, Ericussa (as it was called by the ancients) is undoubtedly the most extreme island in the entire Aeolian archipelago. Not just from a geographical perspective (it is indeed the westernmost), but especially from morphological, geological, and social standpoints.
Landing on Alicudi means arriving in a place without space or time, means traveling backward, rediscovering a world frozen in the era before automobiles existed, when days were measured solely by the movement of the sun. Everything on the island lives in symbiosis with nature; inhabitants eat what they produce, from their catch of fish to vegetables and crops grown in the ample fields at the top of the island. Everything in Alicudi has the flavor of authenticity, with aromas and colors that we “city dwellers” have long forgotten.
Alicudi has no roads; it extends upward via paths and mule tracks to Mount Filo dell’Arpa. The small harbor, where ships and hydrofoils arrive daily (very few), is the island’s most “active” spot. It’s there where, at 10 AM, the day begins. The inhabitants punctually gather to await the first ship loaded with food, newspapers, bottled water, and essentials. At the beginning of the village, there are two markets and a few small restaurants, easily accessible. For everything else, there are only uphill climbs.
The beaches of Alicudi Island are distinctive, with pebbles and rocks, and can be reached via paths and mule tracks. You’ll also find trails that allow you to reach the summit, dotted with expanses of ferns, heather, and shrubs. If you’re lucky, you might even spot peregrine falcons or pelicans that usually appear in spring and autumn.
On the island, there are several houses that offer accommodations and B&B services. They are mostly managed by locals who, in addition to providing lodging, will invite you to delicious dinners and lunches. The houses are typical “Aeolian” style with white columns and spectacular sea views. In Alicudi, you’ll rediscover the beauty of silence and birdsong. The only sounds on this island are gentle breezes and waves crashing against the rocks. There are neither cars nor scooters, and the only authorized “vehicles” are mules and donkeys. On the calmest evenings, you can even admire the entire northern coast of Sicily, and if Stromboli is active, you might see trails of fire from the majestic volcano.
