Stromboli

About this place

Stromboli is an island in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the north coast of Sicily, home to Mount Stromboli, one of Italy's four active volcanoes, about 61 km northwest of the Calabrian coast in a straight line. It is one of the seven Aeolian Islands, the mythical home of Aeolus, keeper of the winds. The island covers 12.6 square kilometres and is only the upper third of the volcano, with about 500 residents. The volcano stands 926 metres above sea level and over 2,700 metres above the sea floor. It is constantly active with small eruptions, often visible from many points on the island and from the sea, which earned the island its nickname, the Lighthouse of the Mediterranean. Its name comes from the Greek for round, after its conical shape. The dark volcanic cone rises from a blue sea. On its northwest side lies a vast horseshoe-shaped slope called the Sciara del Fuoco, the stream of fire, formed by repeated collapses over the last 13,000 years. The white houses of the village cluster on the shore at the foot of the volcano. Visitors arrive by ferry, wander the village, and many watch the volcano's activity from points on the island and from the sea. Climbing to the craters means checking local rules first, as access can be restricted depending on the volcano's activity.