Aeolian Islands & Lipari (Me)
The Aeolian Islands (Italian: Isole Eolie) are a volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea north of Sicily. They are a popular tourist destination in the summer and attract up to 200,000 visitors annually.

The largest island is Lipari, and tourism marketing often names the entire archipelago the Lipari Islands because of the ease of pronouncing Lipari compared to Aeolian. The other islands include Vulcano, Salina, Stromboli, Filicudi, Alicudi, and Panarea. The town of Lipari has about 11,000 inhabitants. Vulcano is famous for its fango baths. More information >

Highlights: Aeolian Archeological Museum; Calajunco (Pantelleria).

Local Tourist Board Tel.: (090) 988 00 95 Fax: (090) 981 11 90 Web site: www.comunelipari.it How to get there The are frequent car ferries and much quicker hydrofoils from Milazzo on Sicily to and between the islands (most go to Lipari) - many during the summer, with fewer in the spring, fall, winter and on Sundays. For timetables see SIREMAR, Ustica Lines and NGI. A few car ferries a week also continue on to Naples (see SNAV) and during the summer hydrofoils run to and from Cefalù, Palermo and Messina.

Pantelleria (Tp)
Pantelleria is entirely of volcanic origin, and about 45 mi² (117 km²) in area. Hot mineral springs and ebullitions of steam still testify to the presence of volcanic activity. The island is fertile, but lacks fresh water. The principal town (pop. about 3,000) is in the northwest, around the only harbor (only fit for small steamers). The zibibbo grapes and a strong, fragrant spiced wine are produced from its vineyards. The gastronomy offers dishes such as bitter ravioli stuffed with ricotta-cheese and mint, stuffed eggplants, fish couscous, capers and very small and tasty lentils.

Highlights: There are many grottos where it is possible to take healthy steam baths; one of the most famous being the 'Stufa' (stove) del Bagno di Arturo near Sibà; the beach Balata dei Turchi.

Local Tourist Board Tel.: (091) 705 60 01 Web site: www.regione.sicilia.it How to get there Daily overnight ferries run from Trapani in Sicily, running more frequently alongside hydrofoils in the summer. See SIREMAR and Ustica Lines.

Ustica (Pa)
Ustica is the name of a small island, about 6 miles across (9 km), situated 33 miles (52 km) north of Capo Gallo, Italy. Roughly 1400 people live there. Its fate in modern times has always been that of being a prison and place of exile until the end of the Second World War. Nowadays, Ustica has recovered its priceless nature resources thanks to the Marine Reserve. Its gastronomy includes all the typical Sicilian dishes such as pasta with sardines, the famous caponata (selection of vegetables and other ingredients fried together), spaghetti with lobster and many other delicacies.

Highlights: Capo Falconiera; scuba diving.

Aegadian Islands & Favignana, (Tp)
The Aegadian Islands (Italian: Isole Egadi), are a group of small mountainous islands in the Mediterranean Sea off the northwest coast of Sicily, Italy, near the city of Trapani, with a total area of 22,97 mi² (37,45 km²). Favignana (Aegusa), the largest, lies 10 miles south west of Trapani; Levanzo (Phorbantia) 8 miles west; while Marettimo, the ancient Iera Nesos, 15 miles west of Trapani, is now reckoned as a part of the group. There are also some minor islands between Favignana and Sicily. The overall population in 1987 was estimated at about 5,000. The main occupation of the islanders is fishing and this is where the largest tuna fishery in Sicily can be found.

Highlights: Favignana is famous for its caves of volcanic rock and the ancient fishing technique of tonnara (Arab origin), with the trapping and mattanza (massacre) of tuna. Favignana is one of the few places in Italy where this is still done. The beaches of Cala Minnola and Cala Rossa are among the most beuatiful in Sicily.

Pelagie Islands & Lampedusa (Ag)
Pelagie Islands (Italian: Isole Pelagie) consist of Lampedusa, Linosa, and Lampione. They are small islands in the Mediterranean Sea between Malta and Tunisia, south of Sicily. They are part of Agrigento province.

Other Minor Islands
Several small islands join the above mentioned groups of islands: the Islands of the Asinelli and the Island of Colombaia in the sea of Trapani; the Island of the Femmine north-west of Palermo; the Islands of the Ciclopi (Lachea or Aci, Faraglione Grande and Faraglioni Piccoli), north of Catania; the Island of Vendicari, south of Noto; the Island of Capo Passero near the Cape bearing the same name, and the Island of the Correnti with the nearby Formiche and Porri.