Dear friends,
I kindly require quick advice. We are currently faced with the choice to either spend 1 day in Stromboli or 1 day in Vulcano. We arriving on Friday night and will spend Saturday in Lipari. Now for the "Vulcano" we have to make a choice. We rather concentrate on one island instead rushing over two. So faced with the choice, would Vulcano or Stromboli be better to have an "vulcan experience" and fill a day?
It has been almost 15 years since my incredible week in Lipari- for Stromboli we went by a boat tour locally that as I recall left early afternoon and there was an opportunity to swim from the boat before going on to Stromboli where we had some time on the black beach- then the boat was offshore into the night in order to see the lava flows. Our day on Vulcano was memorable, we took a ferry and the sulfurous smell is overwhelming on approach. We pottered around the natural steaming mud holes and spent some time in the baths and then the sea, where I still have some of the pumice that was bobbing in the water, everywhere. The smell never did come out of the sarong wrap I wore but it always reminded me of the trip. It might depend on whether you want a classic "eruption" at which to marvel or the opportunity to sense the earth's fire just beneath your feet- I think you only have one day in Lipari?
for a quick 'vulcan experience' i suggest vulcano. stromboli or 'iddu' as the locals call 'him' demands an overnight stay, or he might get very angry, after all, he is etna's little brother! i am biased towards stromboli. it's a magical place. The asymmetrical whitewashed houses with brightly painted doors, windows and caper shaped chimneys, pasta ala strombolana at punta lena restaurant. all unforgettable memories. the crater can be reached only via guided tours (safety reasons). i think those are available only in the evenings to catch the eruptions at night. went to vulcano in july for a day trip. have to admit didn't see much of the island, my goal was to climb to the edge of the crater. the view up there is incredible, the landscape otherworldly, including vents spewing out sulfur smoke! the climb is quicker and you don't need a guide. either way, both islands are a charming escape from the hustle-bustle for either the mainland or sicily.
