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Aeolian Islands

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Aeolian islands

Information Arcipelago of Aeolian Islands

Seven islands that give life and splendor Archipelago: Lipari, Salina, Vulcano, Stromboli, Filicudi, Alicudi and Panarea. Were inhabited since prehistoric times, as witnessed by the many artifacts preserved in the museum Aeolian. The archipelago is internationally renowned for the archaeological record, for the splendor of its landscapes, and areas related to volcanoes, because of the latter UNESCO has listed the archipelago between the sites considered World Heritage . Also remember the story of Aeolus, god of winds, and Ulysses, who in return trip to Ithaca is hosted here and provided with a skin full of wind. At the end of the fourth millennium BC , Chose Lipari, the first inhabitants of the Aeolian islands, just as it is where the stone obsidian. This lava rock was a source of wealth before the discovery of other metals, and was exported throughout the Mediterranean. Almost all civilizations chose to settle on the promontory of the castle, overlooking the sea, and therefore safer place because surrounded by rock. The Isles were invaded by many civilizations, lived a period of greater importance with the Greeks, then fell under the Romans, and so took over a period less happy. For centuries the islands were only shepherds and farmers, and the archipelago came back to blossom when King Roger the Norman castle built on the bedrock of the cathedral and the cloister. Another serious blow him rage the Turks, but followed the orderly reconstruction from Emperor Charles the fifth. In the archaeological museum, consisting of 25 splendid rooms, inside the ancient palaces of the Cittadella, we can find evidence from prehistory, with pottery, amphorae, theatrical masks, and many other precious objects dedicated underwater archeology and volcanology. The archipelago has been under the crosshairs of the great directors, among them Rossellini, fascinated by its natural landscapes and the many facets of a thousand iridescent colors of sea and sky, picturesque sunsets, wild creeks. The splendor of the archipelago also captured Nanni Moretti, who has traveled Dear Diary, and Troisi, with the film Il Postino, made famous as the mythical beach of Pollara. The characteristic Aeolian architecture, is the construction of cube-shaped white houses, which stand between the blue sea and the black volcanic earth. The houses were built in order to carry out agricultural activities; therefore had a terrace covered with a trellis of vines, where activities took place in the family. The roof was built with a slight inclination to collect rainwater, which through the construction of an overarching system to the tank. The windows always blue or green color to ward off insects, next to every house there was a place where you placed the products to dry tomatoes, figs, and many other delicious foods that can be tasted in different restaurants. On the islands you can only reach by boat with hydrofoils and ferries from Naples, Milazzo, Palermo, Cefalu, Capo D'Orlando, Messina, Reggio Calabria, Vibo Valentia, and the Port of Tropea. In winter the companies reduce the ferry ran, while in summer the links provide several races. It also plans to build a small airport in Lipari. The climate is temperate and in winter the temperature never drops below ten degrees and even out of season, are possible pleasant stay. Summers are hot tempered because the sea breeze. Spring explosion of color. The vegetation is typically Mediterranean, rich with ferns, heather, myrtle, oleander and broom, lush herbs such as thyme, rosemary, oregano, numerous fruit trees, fig, peach, plum, tangerine, prickly pear. The typical caper plant, are exported all over the world, a plant that grows naturally on the rocks when the caper remains uncultivated, the flower buds from the plant, the fragrances, which was used to scent linen; renowned for the screw production unique in the world of wine Malvasia. The fauna is rich and varied, the sea among the clearest and most full of fish, is a paradise for divers of every continent. The cuisine is mainly seafood, but also vegetables and meat dishes are unique, especially in inland areas, culinary delights are sweet and sour rabbit, chicken fried with cinnamon. Another typical recipe is cooked wine, made from the juice, apples and figs, is used as the basis for some sweets. It also obtains from the delicious mustard prickly pears, harvested unripe, peeled and put to cook without water, then add flour, stirring, and put in fridge for later served cold. The Aeolian Islands offer a variety of sweets, of course, besides the typical Sicilian cannoli, we find at Christmas "spicchiteddi and cassatieddi", at Carnival the "gigi", and finally nacatuli, made with lard, flour, vanilla and cinnamon. These cakes may be accompanied by a wide range of liqueurs typical of the area, the plum, mandarin.