Island of Stromboli
Stromboli was known in antiquity with the name of Strongyle, the rotunda. Its volcano is always active and reaches 920 meters in height. The crater area is made up of 3 active cones whose volcanic activity is mainly of an explosive nature, with the launch of lapilli and fragments of magma. The lava flows are channeled into a large steep basin towards the sea called Sciara del Fuoco. Stromboli is the only volcano in Europe and one of the few in the world in permanent eruptive activity.
Most of the residents live on the safe northeast side of the island. Most of the inhabitants of the island work in tourism. Agriculture, especially vines and olive groves, is now of little importance. The roads are too narrow for cars, replaced by motorized scooters and tricycles for freight. There are two churches, shops and a large number of hotels and restaurants.
As soon as you disembark at the port of Stromboli, Punta Scari, you are immediately struck by the beauty of the island with its long sandy beach and white houses on the mountain. From the panoramic square of San Vincenzo begins a climb that leads to the top of Stromboli. Up to an altitude of 450 meters, the path is easy to walk and does not require the assistance of a volcanological guide. Beyond this point, for safety reasons, it is mandatory to climb the volcano only together with a qualified guide. The travel time to the top of the volcano is about two hours but the effort rewarded by a unique show in the world.
Returning to the village, after the Church of San Vincenzo, there is the Church of San Bartolomeo. It was here that Roberto Rossellini and Ingrid Bergman stayed during the shooting of the film Stromboli Terra di Dio in 1949. Continuing, you can easily reach Piscità and the black sand beach. At the end of Piscità a small road leads to the observatory, now converted into a restaurant which is only 100 meters from the crater. During dinner you can watch the show of explosions and the launch of lapilli.
To move around Stromboli it is essential to bring a torch, since the island is not well lit and it is for this reason that there is an excellent view of the starry sky.
The second inhabited center of the island is Ginostra, a small village that can only be reached by sea. The town has about thirty inhabitants and the only sounds are those of the wind and the sea.
A small volcanic islet of Strombolicchio about 50 meters high is the northernmost point of Sicily.
