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We thoroughly enjoyed our day trip to Vulcano. The main reason that we wanted to come by here was to be able to hike up a volcano, sans guide or tour. If you’re not looking for an active vacation and prefer lounging on the beach (and I wouldn’t blame you!), Vulcano could likely be skipped or shortened to a half day excursion, as the main port area isn’t as built up as Salina or Lipari and there are fewer lunch and shopping options.
The main attraction of the island (and its namesake), is the giant active volcano in the middle of the island. This is one of the four active volcanos in Italy that are not submarine. Vulcano has not erupted since the late 1880s, when it virtually destroyed much of the island that had been built up by the Scottish industrialist James Stevenson, who fled the island. However, steam and het still surround the volcano today, and another eruption isn’t far from the imagination of those who visit. This is what we would recommend on your day trip to Vulcano:
Cratere della Fossa.
After picking up some Italian pastries for breakfast, set off along the Strada Provincilate 179 to get to the starting point of the Vulcano hike (the route is well marked from those departing from the port), which will lead you to the Cratere della Fossa. There is a traffic light at the entryway that will be red if hikers aren’t allowed at the moment, and there are steep fines if anyone begins the hike while it is red. Luckily, it was green and we were good to go when starting our own hike! The hike up is of moderate difficulty, with varying landscapes that turn to dark ash as you get closer to the original lava flow. Some parts can get fairly steep (you are hiking up the side of a volcano after all!) but if you’re of reasonable fitness level I think it’d be manageable. The top wasn’t overly crowded when we went, which made the experience all the more enjoyable. See some of our photos from our hike below!
Sicily has three active volcanos that can be visited – Vulcano, Stromboli, and Etna. We visited each, and this one was my favorite! The fact that you can hike up yourself and don’t have to hire a guide or pay for a tour made it unique and felt more authentic to some of the other volcanos. Although you likely won’t see lava (and if you do, it’s probably not a good thing), you’re able to get close enough to see heat smoke billowing off of the crest and smell the sulfur coming off of the rock. That being said, often volcanos can go with very little notice, so never explore without being aware of the risks!
After the hike
After you’ve finished your hike, head back down to the docks for some lunch, where there are several locations selling sandwiches or pasta for lunch. After lunch, Volcanello was recommended to us as a part of the island well worth exploring, and is close enough to walk to from the port area. The rest of the afternoon can be spent enjoying the black sand beaches. We tried the Spiaggia delle Acque Calde, just down the road from the port, with black sand and water that bubbles due to the volcanic activity. The Spaggia delle Sabbie Nere is also right across the road. When we visited, the natural baths, or Laghetto dei Fanghi, were closed and have been for several years. We were disappointed to hear this, and if these reopen again, we were keen to try these out as well.
Vulcano is best enjoyed as a day trip. As the islands are easy to reach by ferry, consider staying on nearby Lipari or Salina to take advantage of more built-up lodging or dining scenes. We stayed on Salina, and jetted back to the island in time for dinner, but Ristorante La Forgia di Pagliaro Maurizio and I Tenerumi (Michelin starred) were recommended to us.