Located about 20 km from the coast, the Aeolian Islands number seven major islands of volcanic origin including Lipari, the largest and most lively. The upper part of the island has kept its ancient aspect, an impregnable promontory of great strategic value; while the lower part is full of hotels, bistros and major shops. The main road is Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Only for pedestrians, it connects Lipari's two ports, located at opposite ends of the city. Thanks to the mild climate all year-round and the extremely rich collection of things to do and see, organising your holiday in Lipari will be a piece of cake!
On the island of Lipari there are various seaside destinations that are so unique they are a must-see, with a crystalline sea that attracts thousands of tourists from every corner of the world. Canneto is a small town about 3 km from Lipari town, with a long, fine white sandy beach; Bianca Beach, with its unmistakable pebbles, is decidedly more reserved.
The Castle of Lipari can be reached by foot from the Meligunis staircase that starts at the port and leads to Piazza Mazzini, the ancient entrance to the citadel. Lipari's cathedral is located inside the city walls and has a Norman structure, to which some changes were made from the XVI century onward. Dedicated to St. Bartholomew, the building has a precious Baroque interior with numerous frescoes on the walls and paintings depicting scenes from the Old Testament.
The Contrada Diana Archaeological Park stands in the exact spot where there used to be a prehistoric village from the Neolithic period, which became the necropolis of the city during the Greek and Roman eras. The numerous relics that have turned up in this area today are exhibited at the Aeolian Museum, while Greek walls and other ruins from the ancient era can still be seen in the park. The Aeolian Archaeological Museum, also inside Lipari's old walls, houses findings that have been brought to light by excavations in the ancient part of the city. Organised in several halls and buildings, the museum is—both in terms of the number and state of preservation of the relics—one of the most important in all of Sicily. The top floor of the ancient Benedictine monastery, which later became the bishop's palace, is the section that houses the archaeological remains from prehistoric times. Many are the carved pieces of obsidian, in addition to various exemplars of finely decorated vases.
You will experience the island of Lipari in all its splendour at night when it unveils its glamour, seducing the tourists who want to have some fun and enjoy the nightlife. Lipari entertains with concerts, theatre festivals, folk events and food and wine village festival, depending on the season. In the centre of Lipari, Corso Vittorio Emanuele starts filling with young people that have their first aperitifs before the sun has even gone down. Eating outside is a great idea, considering the quality of the bistros. The most popular dishes are naturally made with fish, strictly the fresh fish of the day. For those who have music in their blood or simply want to dance until dawn, there is no lack of clubs and discotheques just around the corner from the beach. What are you waiting for? Check out our holiday packages to Lipari and get ready for an unforgettable experience!
