Aeolian Island's History

The Aeolian Islands are named after Aeolus, the ancient Greek God of the winds. They lie approximately 50 kilometres off the coast of Sicily and due to their height are visible from far out at sea. There are seven main islands: Lipari, Panarea, Salina, Stromboli, Vulcano, Alicudi and Filicudi. Of these, Stromboli and Vulcano are active volcanoes with the former often referred to as the lighthouse of the Mediterranean. All islands rise steeply out of the surrounding with depths quickly rising from over 300 meters to 10 meters in surprisingly short stretches. The location and formation of the islands combine to give them a dual role: that of strategic maritime outposts dominating the sea passage to and from the Messina Straits but also as a serious hazard to shipping. The latter is attested by the numerous ancient shipwrecks discovered on the seabed of all of the islands.

The Islands have been inhabited since prehistoric times and obsidian from Lipari has been found in Neolithic sites as far a field as the Maltese Islands. In the Bronze Age, the islands passed through a number of phases and the inhabitants enjoyed, at various phases, overseas links with Sicily, Italy, Sardinia and even the Aegean. Cnidian and Rhodian Greeks colonized the islands in the first quarter of the 6th century BC and the islands went on to enjoy a period of prosperity punctuated by various disruptive episodes which include a war (at sea) against the Tyrrhenian people and an attack on the islands by Athens in the late 5th century BC.

In the 3rd century BC, Lipari is attacked and eventually conquered by the Romans who proceed to destroy the city on Lipari. The remains of villas on Salina and Basiluzzo indicate that at least some of the islands were used for recreational purposes. Although the first part of Roman rule can be viewed as one of economic prosperity the later phases of Roman rule saw a gradual decline.

During the Middle Ages and early modern period, the Aeolian islands experienced a number of catastrophes including a violent volcanic eruption, the destruction of the city on Lipari by the Arabs (who were busy conquering Sicily) and later on frequent raids by Barbary pirates. The latter culminated with the devastating attack of Barbarossa who destroyed the city and took its entire population away into slavery. This prompted the Islands’ rulers to fortify the rebuilt town, a move which offered a degree of security to the new inhabitants. From the 17th century onwards increased improved economic activity on the islands was brought about by agricultural progress (malvasia grapes, Capers, and other varieties of fruit and vegetables) and fishing. The islands were also used as a penal colony up until 1916. Today, tourism forms the backbone of the modern economy.