Lipari Island (MELIGUNIS)
Area
38,6 sq. km Inhabitants 10.690
For further information (click on the link hereunder):
Lipari alternates
very different landscapes, such as dry grass prairies in the
western part and the areas of high-Mediterranean maquis,
between Monte Chirica and Monte Sant'Angelo. In the first
they are the dwarf palm (Chamaerops humilis) and
in spring the flowering of many species of orchids, in the
second a rich flora of fresh hilly areas of Sicily,
where are prevailing trees, heather and the ferns aquiline.
The fauna includes some interesting endemic, such a
subspecies of mice (Eliomys quercinus liparensis) and
numerous species of insects. Among birds are quite frequent
buzzard (Buteo buteo) and the kestrel (Falco
tinnunculus), the significant presence of imperial crow
(Corvus) whose population density reach truly
extraordinary in Lipari and in other islands of the
archipelago. In western coast and surrounding islands,
during the spring months, are nesting some colonies of real
Mediterranean gull (Larus cachinnans).
History
The city of Lipari
in 1610 stood on a small rocky promontory surrounded by a
robust chain of walls built between 1544 and 1554. Most of
the population lived within the walls of fortification, but
many lived outside the walls or in remote areas and this was
opposed by the Spanish authorities that considered the
castle safe from pirate raids. When the castle became
saturated with houses and population the bishop granted,
between 1608 and 1611, at the university building
areas near the walled city. Inside the city, there were
important churches, the town hall, the bishop's palace and
the barracks. Comandata, St. Andrew, Terranova and Verdesca
were areas in which the city was divided and the first two
were the most wealthy homes and people. Few houses were
comfortable and dignified, many were made of a room or two,
nearly all were isolated because of the need to collect
rainwater. The little amount of water to irrigate heavily
influenced agriculture of the Aeolian in the first
seventeenth century.
GEOLOGY OF
LIPARI ISLAND
On Lipari may be
distincted four periods of volcanic activity, between
the period named Tirreniano I and the Romanic age. The
rock in island represent a typical association
calcium-alkaline, in terms of variable composition by
quarzo-andesiti to rioliti alkaline. Among the series
examined can be divided into three different groups of rocks,
each of which takes probably originate from different
sources magmatic and/or have undergone different processes
of magmatic evolution.
The vulcaniti calcium-alkaline of the aeolian archipelago
show characters petrochemical similar to those of typical "andesiti"
of the continental margin and also differ substantially from
associations of island arc. The seismic and petrochemicals
data are not favorable to relate the Aeolian islands with a
system of type island arc.
General
Information
Lipari is the
largest of the aeolian islands and has a population of about
9000 inhabitants. The island has a rugged volcanic soil,
tuff, obsidian and pumice, and is characterized by coast
dirupate, backed by stacks. The center is the main Lipari
town situated in a bay of the southeast coast. Agriculture (vines,
vegetables, fruit), extraction of pumice stone and
especially tourism are the economic resources of the island.
Itineraries for divers
La Pietra
Del Bagno
The "Pietra Del Bagno" (stone
bath) is a large rock, located a few dozen meters from the
west coast of Lipari, which overlooks the southern side of
Salina; an easy point to find, which offers diving fun to
divers of all levels of experience. The rocks fall
directly to a depth ranging between 25 and 30 meters and
then continuing with a spectacular cascade of boulders down
to 40 meters. At the southern side of the Stone Bath you are
in a of the most interesting place for photography: a depth
of about twenty meters rise of giant boulders colorful,
invaded by sunlight that penetrates easily into the water
limpid.
Punta Castagna
Punta Castagna is in the place of coast
of Lipari characterized by pumice quarries. In a depth
of about 10 meters and crossed the garden of white sediment,
the show is impressive. There was suspended on an endless
abyss that is lost in the most intense blue; the contrast
with the whiteness of volcanic dust covering everything is
violent. The morphology of the seabed is extremely varied:
swimming at the bottom of valleys by high walls; will fly
pointed peaks; we flank overhanging walls. As a fund may
decide to go you will always intense blue under fins and not
ever see the end of this abyss. We do a lot of attention:
the bottom is always the same, at 30 as at 60 meters the
same atmosphere, the same dark color of water. The ideal
deep is that of 40 meters: not too deep but already teeming
with fans Paramuricee and fittissimi banks of Anthias. A
little further up there is a vertical split rich in prawns.
Overland Tours
One of the first
things to do, just come to Lipari, is the tour of the island,
to appreciate his greatness and urbanization. At about 4 km
from Lipari meets Canneto, located in a cove bordered to the
south east from Mount Pilate. From Canneto, along the road
that leads to the church of Pirrera, can be reached Forgia
vecchia, Rocche Rossed and Campo Bianco, famous for casting
of obsidian the first two and the expanses of pumice
the last. Continuing along the road leading to Acquacalda be
reached Porticello, dominated by white pumice deposits.
After the promontory of Punta Castagna, meets Acquacalda
where there is a beach dominated by pumice quarries. From
here begins the climb to the mountain to the village of
Quattropani, situated on a promontory just opposite the
island of Salina. Continuing stands on a plateau in
vineyards, the village of Pianoconte with its white
farmhouses. About a quarter of an hour from Pianoconte,
there are the Baths of S. Calogero, built in 1867 and known
right from the ancient times for their therapeutic effects,
as witness the presence of a Roman sweat cave, which
dates back to about 3,500 years ago, and a "Tholos" of
a civilization Mycenaean civilization , unearthed during
work restoration of 1984/85. Back on the main road is reaching
the suggestive Belvedere of Quattrocchi. From here you can
admire the picturesque creeks from headcoasts, the enchanting
view of the Faraglioni and the background of the island of
Vulcano. Again back on the main road, continuing to Lipari,
a deviation interesting is the path that climbs from the
vineyards of Mount Guard. On top of the mountain is the
international geophysical observatory.
Trekking
Who loves nature
can do great experiences in the Aeolian archipelago. In
these islands, in fact, are rare landscape of the plant and
animal kingdom. The careful observer can grasp phenomena
such as allowing plants to survive in extreme climates,
without water and with too light and heat.
Characteristic is the Mediterranean vegetation consists
mainly of oleanders, myrtle, heather, brooms and oak as
well as aromatic shrubs and thyme. The landscape
plant is characterized by culture of olive groves and
vineyards that make up the coating plant of the islands
mainly in the areas of higher relief. The trekking allows
the visitor to take a more complete picture of this
fascinating archipelago and its natural heritage. There are
roads and mule tracks that were used by many workers to
reach the pumice quarries, the arrival of tourism and the
abandonment of crops have encouraged the fall in use of most
of these paths making them disappear in the thick vegetation;
today all paths are easily feasible thanks to the
cooperative "il sentiero".
Tours by sea
Very interesting is the tour boat around Lipari, from where you can
admire landscapes worked for millennia and wonderful seabed. The one after another succeed deep caves,
beautiful beaches, high coasts , wide bays and wild cliffs.
It is usually starting from Marina Corta going to Canneto, overcoming finally the promontory of Monte Rosa. Surpassing
the town you can see the white pumice deposits,
with the characteristic piers extending to the sea (used
for the transport of pumice on cargo ships). The White
Beach, one of the most beautiful of Lipari, named for the color
of the sea, due to the sediments of pumice falled at sea over the years. The continuous variation of geological
situations is concrete at Punta Castagna, formed by obsidian
become a promontory: this is one of the most picturesque
corners of the coastline. Rounding Punta Castagna appears Acquacalda. After the channel that separates Lipari
from Salina appears Inzolfato, a nature sulfur
stratified composition. Shortly later meet the cliffs of
the Torricelle, Punta del Palmeto and Pietra del bagno. Pass
the Punta of Fontanelle and that of Grotticelle there is the
beach ov Valle Muria. Immediately after the cliffs of
Formiche (Ants),
opposite Vulcano, passing under the arch rocky Punta del
Perciato, we see the solitary Faraglioni of Pietra Menalda and
Pietra Longa, guarding the channel that separates Lipari
from Vulcano. Shortly before Punta Crepazza appears a
charming beach called Praia di Vinci. The picturesque creeks
one another the one until the fortress of Lipari,
finally arriving at the port of Marina Corta.
TO VISIT:
Eoliano Archaeological Museum with the annexed
archaeological park, Cathedral Church in Old Quattropani
USEFUL:
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Information
090.9852028
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Center
services tourism 090.9813542
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Hydrofoils
Snav 090.9812448
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Hydrofoils
Siremar 090.9812200
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Ships Siremar
090.9811312
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Ships NGI
090.9811955
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Hospital civil
090.98851
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Room
hyperbaric 090.9885257
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Harbor
090.9813522
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Carabinieri
090.9811333
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Guardia di
Finanza 090.9811360
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Body forestry
090.9880547
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Firefighters
090.9880400
Pharmacy
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corso V. Emanuele, 128
- 090.9811583
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corso V. Emanuele, 174
- 090.9811392
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via Garibaldi, 60 - 090.9811472
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Marina Garibaldi (Loc.
Canneto) - 0909811428
LEGENDA: 1-Lipari
2-Pietralunga 3-Pianoconte
4-Terme di San Calogero
5-Chiesa vecchia di Quattropani
6-Acquacalda 7-Cave di Pomice
8-Canneto 9-Monterosa
10-Monte Sant'Angelo
