Lipari - The Most Popular Destination in the Aeolian Islands
The largest island of the Aeolians, Lipari is also the main port of entrance from the mainland to the archipelago. A volcanic region, it will surprise you with its steep cliffs, deep caverns, white or black beaches and a very interesting cuisine. Being accessible and picturesque it can be considered a top yacht charter Italy destination.
General Info
Sharing its name with the island it sits on, the largest of the Aeolian group, Lipari is located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, north of Sicily. The city is not only the most populated but also the main entry point for Yacht Charter tourists looking to visit the Aeolians islands.
Apart from its strategic position in the Tyrrhenian Sea basin within the Mediterranean, the city is also a haven for Yacht Charter enthusiasts who not only come here to enjoy the beaches (Spiaggia Bianca – White Beach being the most famous) but also the rugged volcanic terrain with deep caverns and steep cliffs, the thermal waters, the fishing and water sports and, most of all, the good sailing.
Travel & Arrival
The way most of the Yacht Charter crowds get to Lipari is either by hydrofoil or ferry, with several operators making trips to the other Aeolian islands and Sicily (Milazzo). As a general rule, the hydrofoils are faster than the ferries and more comfortable but also more expensive. However, many sailors find it necessary to have air conditioned cabins for the extra price.
Another interesting way of getting to the island is by helicopter. There is a company that flies regularly during the summer season on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays but it’s quite expensive and it doesn’t get you that much faster there than the hydrofoil. All it will do it probably blow a significant hole in your Yacht Charter budget.
Avant & Apres Sail
Being a small Yacht Charter resort, Lipari isn’t full of historical landmarks. However, the island’s long history dating back to prehistory is very well illustrated in the Museo Archeologico Regionale Eoliano which is located in the old castle. The other reason for pride for the locals is the restored Norman church, one of the symbols of Lipari, not to be missed by any travelling Yacht Charter tourist.
Seafood gourmets will feel right at home in Lipari, since the restaurants here specialize in a hoard of fish recipes that will surely tingle those taste buds. A frequently requested dish by the Yacht Charter public is the pescespada – the swordfish. But there are other local delicacies which the chefs prepare with great success like the calamari.
You’ll find that the streets in town are lined with virtually thousands of shops selling local crafts and gastronomic specialties. These include the largely cultivated capers and the famous sweet wine Malvasia, a drink that never seems to fall out of popularity with the Yacht Charter crowds.
This is the reason why most of the nightlife in Lipari consists of bars and tavernas where the local residents and the Yacht Charter sailors gather to sample that wondrous substance with sweet pastries. There is also the occasional dance club, but for the most part, you’ll find just bars with live or recorded music, offering food and drinks to the scantily-clad tourists during those warm nights.
Events & Actions
When you’re done roasting in the sun on the beaches and playing in the warm waves of the Tyrrhenian, you’ll probably want to know of other interesting stuff you and your Yacht Charter crew can enjoy in Lipari. Well, there are water sports available, as well as numerous land sports such as tennis or soccer. Trekking is also a big part of the local touristic industry, and accounts for a large number of visitors during the winter months.