By a distance Lipari is the most populous and popular of the Aeolian Islands. Visitors' first sight will be as their ferry enters the main harbour of Lipari town (your first call from Sicily will be to neighbouring Vulcano, and then on to Lipari). As you enter you pass beneath the huge castle (the 'Castello') dominating the town. Hydrofoils put into the little harbour of Marina Corta, beneath the church and the towering castle (a spectacular way to arrive), while ferries pull into the larger Marina Lunga.
The main town has archeological excavations, uncovering a bewilderingly diverse history of this much invaded place. The Museo Eoliano museum in Lipari town will may help you make sense of things. Check out too the Benedictine abbey at Patti (12th century). Head out from Lipari and you discover the real beauty of this island thrust from the bed of the Tyrrhenian by volcanic activity (Stromboli is the only one of the islands still active as a volcano, with Mount Etna, on Sicily to the south, Europe's largest active volcano, and Mount Vesuvius, over on Italy, the largest on the European mainland). Buses run around the island and there is excellent hiking. If you're up to it, we recommend a bike or scooter as the perfect way to see the stunning scenery, with the other islands floating in the blue waters of the Mediterranean.
Check out the fishing village of Canneto, with its pebbled beach, the very nice stony beach at Porticello. Climb to Quattrocchi, with views over Vulcano and the faraglioni rocks between the two. There is the village of Pianoconte and the Roman baths at San Calogero.
To the left you'll find a selection of Lipari hotels, just to whet your appetite.
See also Lipari hotels (full listings) and our Lipari hotel map.
