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Stromboli, Aeolian Islands, Italy. This is the northern among the seven islands of the archipelago, almost two hours of hydrofoil from the Sicilian port of Milazzo. Stromboli is over the world famous for its turbulent volcano, permanently erupting with a typical explosive activity. But Stromboli is not only its volcano. A luxuriant Nature stand out from lava black stone as a dominant background colour. Everywhere the land is black, as the cobblestone and sandy beaches, the rocky cliffs and the volcano itself. In spring and summer brooms paint of yellow the hillsides of the mountain, giving the island its typical aspect.
Inhabited since the prehistorical eve, Stromboli has two settlements. The main, southward, is the terminal of connecting lines with motherland Sicily. It is a nice village built around the S. Vincenzo church on a flat terrace facing the sea. No cars admitted, the only means of transport are little electric vehicles or scooters. No public lights on the alleys so when the night falls, an incredible starry sky is just over your head. The other settlement is Ginostra, a minimal out of time village on the other side of the island, mostly attainable by boat, with probably the smallest harbour of the world. Electricity there is a recent conquest. Overnight in Ginostra is a unique experience to feel the vibes of the island.
Beautiful wildlife and seaside, nice villages, a delicious gastronomy featured by local products are all excellent reasons to visit the island and to stay some days. But the main attraction remains the hike to the top of the volcano, so that Stromboli is well known among trekkers. To climb the volcano is a tough walk from sea level to 900 meters of altitude. The steep ascent takes three hours at least to reach the peak and, especially late in spring and summer, there is a crazy temperature gradient from very hot at the beginning to quite cold and windy just in the end. If you are lucky you may admire some explosions from the main crater. Usually Stromboli erupt almost once per hour. Of course there are some dangers cause the ridge is narrow and there is not much place to stand and volcanic activity is unpredictable. For this reason, independently trekking is strictly forbidden. To climb over Stromboli you must follow an official guide. You can join a group contacting the two local providers. Front offices are in the main square near the church. Don’t take the hike lightly, it is not technically difficult but is absolutely tiresome!
This film is the result of a journey in June 2015 focused around the climb on the Stromboli. Extemporaneous footage with a light Canon Legria is the only document I have of that experience. Quality is poor but real life is guaranteed.
The track “Places Unseen “ is by Lee Rosevere and is available on Free Music Archive.
Special thanks to the “Stromboli Adventures“ for the success of the hike.
