Posidonia

The Area

Posidonia is situated just a 15-minute walk from Lipari's main town and port, also called Lipari, whose network of streets is home to an excellent selection of restaurants, shops and bars. The historic town centre, sited on a promontory above the sea, boasts an impressive castle, old town walls, a cathedral with Norman origins and the Museo Eolio, a fascinating, not-to-be-missed archaeological museum.

Lipari is the biggest and most populous of the Aeolian Islands. Historically, since Neolithic times, it has been the most important island in the archipelago and was once the world's major producer of pumice stone.

There is a quite efficient bus service connecting the bigger town of Lipari to the other smaller villages, but the easiest way to get around is by renting a scooter. A road circles the entire island and a drive around it is recommended.

Apart from a few very beautiful walks (maps of the island with suggested itineraries are on sale at the newsagents and a few other shops), Lipari has a range of lava sand and pebbly beaches, such as the one at Canneto (just a 5-minute drive northeast from Posidonia) and Acquacalda on the north coast. On the east coast are the island's white shiny pumice quarries, which directly overlook the sea and give the water an amazing turquoise colour.

Lipari is a popular holiday destination in the summer months and the main town, along with Canneto, come alive at night with plenty of bars, pubs and discos.

One great advantage of a stay on Lipari, at the centre of the archipelago, is that island-hopping is relatively easy. We particularly recommend a visit to Salina, Vulcano, Panarea and, if you want to get close to some volcanic action, Stromboli.