Stromboli belongs to the Aeolian Islands archipelago and it is the furthest island away from Sicily. Its name derives from the ancient Greek name Στρογγύλη (Stroŋgulḗ), for its round and convex shape.
It ‘s primarily known for the Stromboli volcano, which rises to 924 meters of height above sea level and has a depth of more than 2.000 meters underwater. Its three active craters are the background of the Julio Verne’s masterpiece “Journey to the Centre of the Earth”. Stromboli is famous also as the place where the love affair between Ingrid Bergman and director Roberto Rossellini born, during the filming of the movie that has the name of the island.
A particular geological feature of Stromboli is the Sciara del Fuoco, a great depression channel-shaped, generated over the past 13.000 years due to various collapses in north-eastern slopes of the volcanic cone. On its solidified edges, almost as if it were a river, lava blocks down to the sea after each explosion. Every night some boats take tourists to see the show.
From the top of the volcano you can observe the magma. The climb up to the volcanic cone of the Stromboli occurred during the afternoon, starting from the tourist office at Ficogrande, and you will get to the eruptive vents – 200m below the summit – in the evening, and enjoy the spectacle of fire by night. The trail of four or six hours is not fit to be addressed in flip flops, especially the last part, where the volcanic soil means that every step forward, you move down of two.
You will need warm clothes, plenty of water, food and sleeping bag for enjoying this exciting excursion to the volcano. However, outbreaks sparkling welcome visitors and every effort will be compensated. The climb ends at 364 meters above sea level. The huge funnel of the crater constantly expels fumaroles and sulphurous vapours between 100 ° and 200 °. The excursion is safe, even if there are alerts and warnings of danger every day for years and years, and it is not advisable to move away from guide or just want to get off the volcano at night.
The explosions of fire and lava are repeated rhythmically, approximately every 20 minutes, and before each eruption, you hear a mighty roar, the ground trembles and then the explosions occur.
At the beginning of the climb of the Stromboli volcano a sign warns of danger of being over an hour to breathe sulphide dioxide of volcanic emissions.
In addition to the volcano, it is worth going by boat to Strombolicchio, a cylindrical cliff of 50 meters high which stands on the sea, 1 km from Stromboli. You can climb on a flat area through a steep staircase carved into the rock. Here you will find a lighthouse powered by solar panels, helping and guiding small boats. Unfortunately, the authorities have banned its visit.
The black sand beaches of Stromboli, the typical dishes swordfish-based, the olive trees around the churches of San Vincenzo and San Bartolo and the graves of the Greek necropolis are sufficient matters for not being intimidated by the volcano and do something else, than to climb to the crater.
Ginostra, at the other extreme part of the island, is a small cluster of houses that can be reached more easily by sea rather than by the road, and where the electricity came only through the use of solar panels. The peace and the desire to know a typical Aeolian environment can bring tourists to visit the port of Pertuso. If you are lucky, you will see the typical Aeolian donkeys, unluckily in fast extinction.
Stromboli is a «beehive» of tourists – also foreigners – who, attracted by the magic of the island, bought a typical white, square and simple house. In the months of July and August it is almost impossible to find hospitality in the touristic structures of the island, and the beach might be a place to sleep, if necessary.
If you want to do an excursion to Stromboli you can contact with us. We’ll shown you the different kind of possibilities to know the volcano with trekking or boat trip.
