- The Aeolian Islands, also known as the Lipari Islands, are a group of seven volcanic islands off the north coast of Sicily.
- The islands are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, due to the remarkable record of island building and ongoing volcanic phenomena.
The Seven Volcanic Islands
- The Aeolian Islands consist of Alicudi, Filicudi, Lipari, Panarea, Salina, Stromboli and Vulcano.
- The Patron Saint of the Islands is Saint Bartholomew, following a legend in 264 CE, that his coffin had run aground on a beach in Lipari.
- Vulcano last erupted between 1888-1890 CE.
- Stromboli is one of the three active volcanoes in Italy. It is the same size as Mount Etna and twice the size of Mount Vesuvius. The eruptions take place in a series of small explosions every 20 to 30 minutes.
Greek Mythology
- Odysseus, the Hero of the Odyssey by Homer, visits the mythical floating island of Aeolia.
- He is given a bag containing all the winds, but during the journey, the crew open the bag, and the escaping winds blow their vessel all the way back to Aeolia.
Filicudi